<: 
I 


^«*^< 


o' 


i^' 


.  ■t"'«   -.^a^ 


,  V 


,,,.*..  «^  *  **»'«  *.*.^, 


¥^ 


PRINCETON,  N.  J. 


5/^^^ 


Diviiion  _J^ j^.^.  .'Of. 

Number 


^T^ 


^H: 


*  f.-^'^MJf'^.l'^i^lJ^- 


* 


.& 


'i^^. . 


'^■ 
v,*^ 


(.if  _ik' 


Aleph,  The  Chaldean  ; 


OR, 


THE    MESSIAH    AS    SEEN    FROM 


ALEXANDRIA. 


BY 

E.  F.  BURR,  D.D.,  LL.D., 

AUTHOR   OF    "  ECCE   COiLUM,"    "  PATER   MUNDI,"   ETC. 


ft 


"  So  forth  ive  gat  us  from  our  home  ; 
So  ive  are  Jiere  to-day  : 
Now  tell  us  where  this  King  tojind. 
Whose  reign  shall  be  alway.'''' 

—Anon. 


NEW  YORK : 

WIIvBUR     B.     KKTCHAM, 

2   Cooper  Union, 


Copyright,  1891, 
By   Wilbur    B.    Ketcham. 


PRE  FAO  E. 


rpWO  facts,  at  least,  should  be  remembered  by  the 
readers  of  this  book. 

1.  It  was  not  uncommon  in  the  times  of  the  Christ 
for  Hebrew  men,  in  imitation  of  Joseph  and  Moses  and 
Boaz,  to  marry  outside  of  their  own  people. 

2.  It  is  a  great  mistake  to  suppose  that  women  in  the 
Roman  Empire  of  the  First  Century  were  secluded  after 
the  current  oriental  fashion.  They  had  about  as  much 
freedom  on  most  lines  of  social  intercourse  as  women  have 
among  us.  The  New  Testament  shows  this  in  regard  to 
Palestine  and  such  contiguous  countries  as  appear  in  the 
Acts  of  the  Apostles.  But  it  was  the  same  wherever  the 
Roman  authority  and  influence  extended. 

''  Tradition  was  in  favor  of  restriction,  but  by  a  con- 
currence of  circumstances  women  had  been  liberated 
from  the  enslaving  fetters  of  the  old  legal  forms,  and  en- 
joyed freedom  of  intercourse  in  society  ;  they  walked  and 
drove  in  the  public  thoroughfares  with  veils  that  did  not 


/ 


ii  PREFACE. 

conceal  their  faces  ;  they  dined  in  the  company  of  men  ; 
they  studied  literature  and  philosophy ;  they  took  part 
in  political  movements;  they  were  allowed  to  defend 
their  own  law  cases  if  they  liked  ;  and  they  helped  their 
husbands  in  the  government  of  provinces  and  the  writing 
of  books." 

Lyme,  Conn.,  U.  S.  A. 


I. 

DOWN    THE    NILE. 

f^rjol  6i,  ToiQ  fiiv  evOv  yivofievoiC  fii^ai  ;^;pi'(Tov. 

— Aristotle,  PoUt.  ii.  3. 

He  says  that  some  have  gold  in  their  composition  from  the  start. 


1.  Wlno  are  thiey? 

2.  A  son  of  Nlisraim. 

3.  Thie  times  of  old. 

4.  A  seeming  nnisfortnne. 


I. 


DOWN    THE    NILE, 

FROM  Coptns  downward  on  the  dreamy  Nile — past 
innumerable  canals  with  their  primitive  water- 
wheels  ;  past  populous  villages  and  lordly  villas  em- 
bowered in  sycamores  and  palms ;  past  still  more  lordly 
ruins,  silent  now  for  many  a  century  ;  past  caravans  and 
pleasure-parties  and  bodies  of  Roman  soldiery,  foot  and 
horse,  coming  and  going  on  the  thoroughfares  that  closely 
skirt  the  river  on  either  hand ;  past  water  craft  of  all 
sorts,  from  skin-buoyed  rafts  carrying  sandstone  from 
Chennu  to  the  Delta  up  to  gay  barges  carrying  travelers 
to  Thebes  and  the  dead  Egypt  of  the  Pharaohs ;  past 
crocodiles  and  hippopotami  and  pelicans  sporting  in  the 
water,  or  basking  along  the  muddy  shore  as  so  many  logs 
or  stones. 

WJio  are  moving  downward  on  the  dreamy  Nile  to 
Alexandria — in  a  large  merchant  vessel,  whose  lateen  sail 
swells  gently  to  the  south  wind  ?  A  large  number  of  per- 
sons with  whom  we  have  no  special  concern.  Two  per- 
sons with  whom  we  have  great  concern,  and  whose  ap- 
pearance is  striking  enough  to  draw  much  attention  from 
their  fellow-travelers,  as  they  stand  together  watching  the 
ever-changing  scene. 

Both  wear  the  classic  Greek  dress,  of  plain  material. 
The  elder,  a  man  of  some  sixty  years,  is  so  Greek  in  feat- 


6  DOWN   THE    NILE. 

ure  that  no  dress  is  needed  to  proclaim  his  nationality. 
The  other^  a  young  man  of  perhaps  twenty  years,  has  a 
face  of  a  different  type.  And  what  a  face  !  Is  it  Egyp- 
tian ?  No.  Is  it  Roman  ?  No.  Is  it  Hebrew  ?  No. 
As  we  take  our  privilege  of  drawing  very  near,  and  of 
looking  carefully  at  those  features  on  all  sides,  and  even 
of  lifting  the  abundant  brown  hair  from  the  broad  white 
forehead  that  swells  so  loftily  over  the  steady  and  some- 
what austere  gray  eyes,  we  would  rather  say  that  we  are 
looking  on  the  original  type  from  which  all  other  racial 
faces  have  varied,  so  readily  does  it  express  the  better  ele- 
ments of  all.  Yes,  the  young  man  must  be  from  Britain 
or  the  Caucasus — and  yet  he  certainly  is  not  from  Britain; 
for  that  is  still  a  land  of  savages,  and  this  youth  has  an 
air  of  culture  and  refinement,  which  the  plainness  of  his 
garb  cannot  conceal.  Is  it  mere  fancy  ?  Have  I  really  a 
sixth  sense  ?  There  is  something  about  the  young  man 
that  seems  to  breathe  of  lofty  plateaus,  and  mountain 
summits,  and  torrents  that  dash  and  roar  on  their  way 
from  the  clouds  to  the  sea.  What  does  this  mountaineer 
here  among  the  lowlands  of  the  Nile  ? 

He  is  evidently  looking  at  the  country  for  the  first 
time.  Everything  seems  to  interest  him  much.  His 
companion,  as  plainly,  is  by  no  means  an  entire  stranger 
to  the  scene,  and  yet  shows  the  degree  of  interest  natural 
to  one  who  is  revisiting  a  country  after  long  absence. 
The  Greek  language  flows  easily  between  the  two  ;  as  the 
elder  from  time  to  time  points  this  way  and  that,  and 
seems  to  be  recalling  and  introducing  old  acquaintances, 
as  the  vessel  slowly  glides  by  object  after  object. 

''  It  is  now  more  than  thirty  years,"  said  the  Greek, 
whom  we  will  call  Cimon,  '^ since    I  left  Egypt;  but  I 


DOWN  THE   NILE. 


notice  very  few  changes— here  and  there  a  new  quay  or 
villa,  or  an  old  palace  decorated  with  new  gardens  and 
trees.  I  once  knew  who  lived  in  some  of  the  finer  dwell- 
ings ;  for  example,  yonder  low  castellated  building  that 
covers  so  much  ground  on  the  eastern  bank.  It  is  very 
ancient,  and  the  gradual  rise  of  the  land  from  the  annual 
deposits  by  the  river,  long  since  converted  the  lower  story 
into  a  dungeon.  The  Roman  propraetor  lived  here  a  part 
of  the  year.  It  once  belonged  to  Cleopatra  ;  was  given 
by  her  to  a  favorite  noble  and  relative,  from  whom  the 
Romans  took  it-,  as  being  heirs  to  all  the  Pharaohs." 

The  vessel,  from  some  cause,  now  approached  the 
palace  they  were  observing,  and  the  two  men  walked  to 
the  right  side  of  the  boat  for  a  closer  view.  While  stand- 
ing here  and  noticing  various  points  of  a  structure  that 
was  now  seen  to  be  a  fortress  as  well  as  a  palace,  they  be- 
came aware  of  a  man  standing  by  their  side. 

"You  seem  interested  in  this  place,''  he  said  in  a 
grave  but  courteous  tone  ;  "can  I  give  you  any  informa- 
tion about  it  ?  I  happen  to  be  particularly  well  ac- 
quainted in  this  neighborhood." 

They  had  turned  to  see  a  man  of  majestic  stature  and 
mien,  far  advanced  in  life,  but  still  erect  as  a  palm  and 
keen-eyed— as  thoroughly  Egyptian  in  his  look  and  dress 
as  Rameses  the  Great. 

"I  see  that  -you  are  strangers,  and  not  Romans,"  he 
added  apologetically,  "  and  old  age  likes  to  speak  of  the 
past  when  it  can  do  so  safely."  And  he  looked  around  as 
if  to  assure  himself  that  they  were  alone. 

Cimon  politely  thanked  the  Egyptian,  and  said  that  he 
had  just  been  telling  his  young  friend  Aleph  that  the 
structure  before  them  was  once  a  royal  residence. 


8  DOWN   THE   N"ILE. 

''That  is  so/'  said  the  old  man;  ''not  only  a  resi- 
dence of  the  Ptolemies,  but  also  of  our  native  kings. 
You  see  that  the  material  is  stone  from  Syene,  and  that 
the  style  of  building  is  old  Egyptian.  It  passed  to  the 
Ptolemies  with  the  crown  of  the  Pharaohs,  but  was  re- 
stored to  a  direct  descendant  of  the  old  owners  as  an  act 
of  justice  by  Cleopatra.  For  a  generation  it  continued 
in  his  family  ;  but  at  last  the  Roman  governor  took  a  lik- 
ing to  the  place  and  took  it.  The  Romans  are  apt  to 
take  what  they  like. " 

"  Not  a  very  uncommon  thing  for  conquerors  any- 
where to  do/'  said  Cimon.  "Perhaps  the  site  of  this 
very  palace  was  taken  without  purchase  or  leave  by  the 
Pharaoh  who  built  it,  from  a  weak  subject  or  from  another 
defeated  Pharaoh." 

"I  think  not,"  decidedly  said  the  Egyptian.  "I 
could  show  you  papyri  and  parchments  in  the  Serapeum 
proving  that  the  property  has  been  in  the  possession  of 
the  same  priestly  family  to  which  it  now  belongs  almost 
as  long  as  we  have  been  historically  a  people  ;  and  that, 
you  know,  is  a  great  while,  and  nearly  connects  us  with 
the  time  when  vacant  Misraini  was  divided  among  our 
fathers." 

"  Certainly,"  said  the  young  man  whom  we  have  heard 
his  companion  call  Aleph,  "no  people  between  this  and 
the  Pillars  of  Hercules  holds  its  land  by  so  ancient  and 
original  a  tenure  as  does  the  people  of  Misraim.  The 
Egyptian  is  older  than  the  Roman,  older  than  the  Greek; 
indeed,  was  wise  and  powerful  ages  before  Rome  or  Greece 
was  born.  And,  if  I  mistake  not,  there  is  no  tradition, 
nor  other  reason  for  thinking,  that  your  fathers  dispos- 
sessed any  other  people.     They  must  stand  as  original 


DOWN   THE   NILE.  9 

proprietors.  If  immemorial  possession,  without  hint  of 
wrong,  does  not  give  a  just  title,  the  world  knows  of  no  such 
title,  whether  the  party  be  a  nation  or  an  individual/' 

^^That  seems  to  me  well  said,"''  came  slowly  from  the 
old  man,  as  his  eye  rested  on  the  ingenuous  face  of  the 
youth.  "We  came  to  the  valley  of  the  Nile  so  early  that 
we  did  not  have  to  inhabit  at  the  expense  of  any  other 
nation.  We  may  be  said  to  hold  our  country  directly  from 
the  immortal  gods." 

"You  say  we  cmne,"  said  Cimon.  "So,  in  your 
opinion,  this  was  not  the  original  site  of  the  Egyptians. 
From  whence  do  you  suppose  them  to  have  come,  and  at 
how  early  a  period  ?  For  my  part,  I  have  no  doubt  that 
you  were  here,  and  were  here  as  a  great  and  accomplished 
people,  long  before  the  Greeks,  or  even  the  Phenicians, 
had  any  political  existence." 

"Your  question  would  be  variously  answered  among 
us,"  returned  the  Egyptian.  "  Some  would  claim  for  our 
past  hundreds  of  thousands,  and  even  millions,  of  years  ; 
would  say  that  such  a  civilization  as  ours  was  at  the  date 
of  our  oldest  monuments  could  not  have  ripened  from 
that  savagery  and  even  brutality  which  they  fancy  to  have 
been  the  primitive  human  condition  in  anything  short  of 
such  immense  periods.  But  such  is  not  my  view.  I  see 
that  you  are  surprised  at  this  ! " 

"Not  surprised  that  you  reject  the  brute-origin  of 
mankind,"  returned  the  Greek  ;  "for  that  seems  to  be 
contrary  to  the  feeling  and  faith  of  all  nations  ;  but  rather 
surprised  that  you  do  not  share  what  I  have  supposed  to 
be  the  fashionable  opinion  among  Egyptians  as  to  their 
immense  antiquity,  and  what  would  naturally  be  to  you  a 
very  pleasant  opinion." 


10  DOWN   THE   NILE. 

**  No  opinion  is  pleasant  to  me"  replied  the  old  man, 
slowly  shaking  his  head,  '*^for  which  I  can  see  no  reason- 
able foundation.  Manetho,  our  only  extant  historian, 
was  an  ancestor  of  mine.  I  have  his  original  manuscripts, 
entire,  and  am  satisfied  by  the  careful  study  of  them  and 
of  the  palace  registers  of  Thebes  that  his  earlier  dynasties 
were  largely  cotemporaneous.  No  ;  from  two  thousand 
to  three  thousand  years  are  enough  to  account  for  our 
whole  history,  monuments  and  all,  if  we  suppose  the 
nation  to  have  been  originally  gifted  and  far  advanced  in 
civilization  on  their  coming  into  the  land.'* 

^'  May  I  ask  from  whence  you  suppose  them  to  have 
come  ?  "  inquired  Aleph. 

''  That  is  a  very  broad  question  at  its  broadest ;  and 
the  broadest  is  what  I  see  in  the  depths  of  your  eyes. 
There  has  been  but  one  tradition  among  us  on  the  sub- 
ject, and  it  is  like  the  traditions  of  all  these  western  peo- 
ples. They  look  toward  the  sun-rising.  Our  fathers  en- 
tered the  land  from  the  north,  after  journeying  from  the 
east.  From  what  part  of  the  great  east,  do  you  say  ?  My 
answer  is  that  Seti  the  aged  is  the  son  of  the  youth  who 
now  stands  before  me.  His  is  the  primitive  stock.  Cau- 
casian Chaldea  is  the  cradle  of  the  nations.  And  if  you 
go  on  to  ask  whence  that  cradle  and  primitive  stock,  I 
have  to  tell  you  what  primitive  Egypt  thought  and  said — 
that  Amun  Ee,  the  eternal,  almighty,  and  all-wise  Spirit, 
made  the  stars  and  the  world,  and  the  first  parents  of  us 
all.  That  your  Democritus  and  Epicurus,"  added  the 
Egyptian,  looking  archly  at  Cimon,  ''  should  have  taught 
differently  !  They  should  have  visited  us  three  thousand 
years  ago  and  taken  lessons.  They  would  have  steered 
their  way  more  successfully  among  the  snags  and  breakers 


DOWl^   THE   NILE.  11 

of  thought.  For,  the  stream  of  history  is  like  the  Nile — 
broad  with  us,  and  not  without  its  monsters  as  well  as 
fertilities,  but  beginning  small  and  beginning  very  high 
among  mysterious  mountains.  I  speak  with  confidence  ; 
for  I  feel  that,  owing  to  certain  circumstances,  I  stand  on 
higher  ground  than  most  observers  do,  and  can  see  farther 
across  the  centuries.  The  horizon  is  distant,  but  I  can 
see  that  there  is  a  horizon,  and  that  it  sweeps  high  among 
the  clouds." 

At  this  moment  a  Roman  officer,  who  had  been  lying 
intoxicated  behind  some  boxes,  but  was  now  sufficiently 
recovered  to  be  miserable  and  quarrelsome,  came  some- 
what unsteadily  toward  them.  They  were  standing  with 
their  backs  toward  him  ;  and,  noticing  their  plain  garbs, 
he  was,  perhaps,  encouraged  in  his  thought  of  mischief. 
Coming  up  to  the  Egyj^tian,  he  struck  him  a  smart  blow 
on  the  back  with  the  flat  of  his  sheathed  sword  which  he 
carried  in  his  hand. 

'^Ha,  old  mummy,  did  you  never  see  a  Roman  be- 
fore ? ''  as  Seti  turned  suddenly  toward  him.  ^'  Improve 
your  opportunity.  But  you  will  have  an  opportunity  to 
feel  a  Roman  as  well  as  to  see  him  if  you  do  not  at  once 
find  the  skipper  for  me.  Come,  hurry  off,  old  fellow  ! " 
and  he  raised  his  sword  as  if  for  another  blow. 

Aleph  stepped  between.  "It  is  more  fitting  that  I 
should  do  your  errand,  if  it  must  be  done.  You  see  that 
I  am  a  young  man,"  said  he,  fixing  a  steady  eye  on  the 
haughty  and  inflamed  face  before  him. 

"  Who  are  you  who  dare  to  stand  between  a  Roman 
and  his  will  ?  "  cried  the  officer  furiously,  his  hand  still 
uplifted. 

"  Let  it  suffice  you  that  we  are  peaceable  people,  mov- 


12  DOWN   THE   NILE. 

iiig  quietly  about  on  our  own  private  affairs,  as  Roman  law 
and  custom  entitle  us  to  do.     Do  you  understand  ?'^ 

^'  I  understand  that  if  you  do  not  stand  away  from  be- 
tween Rome  and  Egypt,  the  Caucasus  will  suffer/"  and 
the  madman  began  to  draw  his  sword. 

*^  Listen/"  said  Aleph  with  composure  and  emphasis. 
^^  You  had  better  not.  You  have  a  superior  officer,  and 
we  are  going  to  Alexandria.  I  call  all  these  people  to 
witness  (by  this  time  many  had  gathered  about)  that  this 
quarrel  is  not  of  our  seeking."" 

'^  Dare  you  threaten  a  Roman  commander,  you  beard- 
less cub  !  By  the  immortals,  you  shall  see  what  I  dare,"" 
shouted  the  man,  as  he  plucked  his  sword  from  the  scab- 
bard. 

"  You  shall  not,""  said  Aleph  ;  and,  snatching  a  large 
bundle  from  a  by-stander,  he  thrust  it  into  the  face  of  the 
Roman.  It  burst  and  enveloped  the  man  in  a  cloud  of 
pelican  feathers,  which  a  Jcav  had  been  collecting  for  the 
rag-market  of  Alexandria.  Before  his  assailant  could  re- 
cover himself  and  sight,  Aleph  had  thrown  his  arms  about 
him,  secured  his  sword,  and,  despite  his  struggles,  laid 
him  supine  on  the  floor.  Then,  without  much  difficulty, 
he  managed  to  swathe  and  bind  his  arms  to  his  body  with 
his  long  sword-sash.  Looking  about,  his  eye  caught  a 
small  coil  of  rope  near  him  ;  this  he  drew  to  himself,  and 
with  it  fastened  the  man  in  a  sitting  posture  to  one  of  the 
posts  that  supported  the  awning.  All  this  was  not  done 
without  much  struggling  and  cursing  on  the  part  of  the 
Roman  ;  but  Aleph  was  perfectly  silent  till  his  prisoner 
was  well  secured.  Then,  turning  to  the  spectators,  he 
said  : 

In  behalf  of  the  general  safety,  let  this  man  remain 


i' 


DOWN   THE    i^ILE.  13 

as  you  see  him  till  we  reach  Alexandria.  Wine  has  made 
him  dangerous ;  and  you  notice  that  what  has  been  done, 
I  only  have  done,  and  that  reluctantly,  to  prevent  some- 
thing worse/^ 

A  cheer  flashed  out  from  the  faces  huddled  about,  and 
almost  shaped  itself  on  their  parted  lips,  but  was  suddenly 
suppressed  before  anything  more  than  an  indistinct  mur- 
mur had  escaped ;  for  their  eyes  fell  on  the  watchful  and 
infuriated  face  of  the  officer.  They  were  prudent  people, 
those  passengers.  They  admired  courage  ;  they  were  glad 
to  see  a  Roman  put  down  ;  but  they  were  not  ready  to 
sacrifice  safety  to  sentiment.  So,  instead  of  cheering,  they 
compromised  and  fell  to  laughing  at  the  Jew,  who,  ex- 
claiming, 

"  0,  my  feathers,  my  poor  feathers  !  Ah,  father 
Abraham,  I  am  a  ruined  man  this  day  ;  what  will  become 
of  me  ! ''  crept  about  on  his  hands  and  knees,  trying  to 
collect  as  much  of  his  volatile  property  as  possible. 

"  Do  not  worry  yourself,  my  friend,"  said  Seti  to  him 
in  a  low  voice  ;  "  gather  what  you  can,  and  add  this  coin 
to  make  the  weight  good.  What  has  been  lost  for  my 
sake  shall  not  be  loss  to  you." 

The  Jew  glanced  at  the  coin  that  had  been  slipped 
into  his  hand,  and,  catching  the  gleam  of  gold,  hurried 
it  dexterously  to  his  pouch,  at  the  same  time  exclaiming, 

*^  May  all  the  patriarchs  ...  oh,  my  beautiful  feath- 
ers for  which  I  paid  .  .  .  may  Abraham,  Isaac,  and 
Jacob  .  .   .  ah,  what  will  become  of  me  !  " 

And  so  he  went  on  groping  and  exclaiming  and  stuff- 
ing handful  after  handful  of  his  recovered  property  into 
his  bag  amid  the  merriment  of  the  crowd. 

Making  a  sign  to  the  two  friends  to  follow,  the  Egyp- 


14  DOWN   THE   NILE. 

tiaii  led  the  way  to  another  part  of  the  vessel  free  from 
people,  where  was  a  single  seat.  On  this  he  seated  him- 
self. 

"  I  take  the  privilege  of  age,"  said  he,  "  and  I  am  by 
no  means  sure  but  that  age  gives  me  the  only  advantage  I 
have  over  you.  I  suspect  that  the  eyes  of  Seti,  though 
aged,  have  made  a  discovery." 

The  two  friends  glanced  inquiringly  at  each  other,  but 
said  nothing.  They  were  now  moving  along  the  canal 
that  connected  the  J^ile  with  Lake  Mareotis  ;  and  for 
some  time  they  silently  watched  the  agricultural  opera- 
tions and  the  ever-increasing  number  of  people  and  dwell- 
ings on  either  bank.  At  length,  emerging  into  the  lake, 
they  saw  in  the  distance  the  crowded  shipping  and  towers 
of  the  city  of  Alexandria. 

Seti  roused  himself  from  the  mood  of  intense  thought- 
fulness,  into  which  he  had  fallen,  and  asked  : 

^'^  Are  you  acquainted  with  Alexandria?" 

Cimon  answered  :  "  With  the  city,  well  ;  with  the 
people  of  the  city,  not  at  all.  A  generation  has  passed 
since  I  was  here." 

^'^  Excuse  one  further  question,"  continued  the  Egyp- 
tian.    '^ Do  you  stay  long  in  the  city?" 

"  That  depends  on  circumstances,"  replied  Cimon  ; 
"  but  probably  our  affairs  will  keep  us  here  for  some 
time.^^ 

"  This  young  man  has  to-day  made  an  enemy,  and 
a  powerful  one  ;  no  less  a  person  than  the  dissipated  son 
of  Flaccus,  the  Governor  of  Egypt.  But  he  has  also 
found  a  friend  ;  and  if  at  any  time  you  should  need  such 
aid,  in  whatever  affairs  you  have  in  hand,  as  can  be  given 
by  a  native  of  the  country,  and  by  one  well  acquainted 


DOWN   THE   KILE.  15 

with  things  and  persons  here  and  not  altogether  without 
influence,  ask  at  the  Serapeum  for  the  priest  Seti,  and 
you  will  find  that  I  have  not  forgotten  to-day.  Do  you 
believe  in  faces  ? ''  looking  at  Aleph. 

^^  In  some  faces,  as  interpreted  by  circumstances,  I  do 
certainly/'  replied  the  young  man. 

'*^  And  so  do  I,  at  least  so  far  as  you  are  concerned/' 
said  the  Egyptian  ;  '^  and  it  is  largely  because  I  do  so  that 
I  now  say  what  I  do.  There  are  two  men  in  Alexandria 
with  whom  you  should  have  as  little  dealing  as  possible. 
One  is  Flaccus,  the  Roman ;  the  other  is  Mains,  the  Jew. 
The  one  is  violent,  the  other  is  crafty,  and  both  are 
wicked  and  powerful.  Avoid  them,  if  possible  ;  but  if  it 
is  not  possible,  then  remember  Seti,  the  Eg3rptian.  It  is 
true — what  the  proverb  says,  that  in  this  world  the  worst 
men  often  occupy  the  best  places.'* 

As  the  vessel  approached  the  quay,  Seti  continued: 
' '  I  think  that,  contrary  to  my  expectation,  I  will  ask  one 
more  question  before  we  part.  Of  what  faith  are  you  ? 
All  sorts  are  found  here  ;  also  multitudes  with  no  faith  at 
all.  Where  do  you  stand  ?  "  looking  at  Cimon.  ^^  Do 
you  hold  with  your  fathers  ? '' 

'^  With  my  father,''  said  the  Greek  ;  ''  but  not  with 
my  fathers.  I  follow  not  Zeus,  but  Jehovah  ;  not  the 
oracles  of  Delphi  and  Dodona,  but  those  of  the  Hebrew 
prophets.     This  young  man  the  same." 

*'It  is  as  I  supposed,"  said  the  old  man,  after  a  mo- 
ment adding,  as  if  to  himself,  '^^and  it  is  well.  Zeus, 
Jupiter,  Amun  Re,  and  Jehovah,  rightly  understood,  are 
the  same." 

Giving  them  his  hand,  he  stepped  ashore,  and  disap- 
peared in  the  crowd.     Runners  from  the  various  khans 


16  DOWN  THE   NILE. 

now  came  noisily  aboard  and  fought  for  customers,  as 
they  do  now,  and  have  done  from  time  out  of  mind.  To 
one  of  these  troublesome  fellows  Cimon  delivered  certain 
packages,  and  then,  with  his  young  companion,  followed 
them.  In  passing  the  spot  where  they  had  left  the 
Koman,  they  found  that  he  had  disappeared.  Who  had 
set  him  free  ?  No  matter  ;  he  is  gone.  We  hope  they 
have  seen  the  last  of  him.  We  hope  that  returning  sober- 
ness has  made  the  man  so  ashamed  of  himself  that  here- 
after he  will  carefully  keep  out  of  view.  But  we  have 
our  fears.  The  appeal  from  Philip  drunk  to  Philip  sober 
is  not  always  a  success.  Besides,  Philip  was  not  a 
Koman. 


II. 

THE  CARAVANSARY. 

AAA;/  d'  (i/lAwf  yTiCjaaa  fiefity^^vrj. 

—Homer,  Odyss.  xix.  175. 
There  was  a  great  confusion  of  tongues. 


1.  All  sorts. 

2.  What  all  believe. 

3.  An  exception. 

4.  A  >^rong  righted. 


II. 

THE    CARAVANSARY. 

a"^HE  khan  to  which  our  two  friends  were  conducted 
-  was  not  far  from  the  landing.  It  was  the  chief 
point,  in  that  part  of  the  city,  of  arrival  and  departure 
for  commercial  people  ;  and,  as  evening  was  now  near, 
the  great  court  within  was  bustling  and  picturesque  with 
arrivals.  Donkeys  were  being  led  through  it  to  stables 
in  the  rear,  camels  were  being  unloaded,  horsemen  were 
dismounting  ;  it  was  a  very  Babel  of  sounds,  of  costumes, 
and  of  movements. 

'^  Is  Nathan  still  the  keeper  of  this  khan  ?  "  inquired 
Cimon  of  their  guide,  as  they  were  being  shown  to  their 
quarters. 

'^He  is,''  said  the  man  ;  ''^but  he  is  now  out  of  the 
city.  Do  you  wish  to  see  his  assistant  ?  The  master 
himself  will  not  be  at  home  for,  perhaps,  some  days." 

Cimon  answered  in  the  negative.  Following  their 
guide  and  parcels  into  a  small  sleeping-room,  with  an 
ante-room  opening  on  the  piazza  which  surrounded  the 
court,  and  directing  that  a  simple  meal  should  be  sent  to 
them  in  the  evening,  they  busied  themselves  for  a  while 
in  arranging  matters  for  the  night.  Then  they  went  out 
on  the  cooler  piazza,  and  seated  themselves  on  a  bench. 

"  This  adventure  with  the  Roman  seems  unfortunate," 


20  THE   CARAVANSARY. 

said  Cimon  thoughtfully.  '^Unless  matters  have  much 
changed  since  I  was  here,  the  ill-will  of  any  Roman  official 
is  not  to  be  coveted ;  while  that  of  the  Roman  governor 
looks  like  quite  a  serious  matter  to  people  on  such  an 
errand  as  ours.^^ 

^'  My  interference,  I  suppose,"  said  Aleph,  ^'  would 
hardly  be  considered  prudent  by  most  people  ;  but  I  can- 
not but  think  that  there  is  something  better  than  pru- 
dence. Shall  we  never  allow  our  hearts  to  speak  and  act 
without  stopping  to  consider  how  our  interests  will  be 
affected?  Safety  gained  in  that  way  seems  to  me  hardly 
worth  the  having." 

"  I  think  you  are  right,"  said  the  other.  ^'I  am  far 
from  finding  fault  with  what  you  have  done.  Under  like 
circumstances  I  would  have  you  do  it  again.  Our  first 
thought,  no  doubt,  should  be.  What  is  highest  and  wor- 
thiest ?  If  that  is  not  prudence,  it  is  something  vastly  bet- 
ter. But  it  is  prudence,  on  the  whole  ;  for  it  will  never 
do  for  a  man  to  despise  himself  and  offend  Heaven.  God 
governs.  But  we  must  wait  for  Him.  A  cloud  is  not 
always  a  calamity.  A  rough  wind  may  help  one  toward 
the  harbor  sought.  I  know  that  these  are  your  father's 
views,  and  that  he  would  be  unwilling  to  have  his  son 
sacrifice  even  magnanimity  to  any  appearance  of  present 
advantage." 

''Have  you  any  idea  who  Seti  is?"  inquired  the 
young  man  after  a  moment. 

''I  have  been  trying,"  answered  the  other,  ''to  find 
in  my  memory  something  about  him.  I  know  that  when 
I  was  here,  the  Egyptians  as  well  as  the  Jews  had  an 
official  head  or  alaharcli  of  their  own  nation,  who  was 
the    organ    of   communication    between   them    and   the 


THE   CARAVANSARY.  21 

Roman  authorities.  My  impression  is  that  the  Egyptian 
alabarch  was  of  Pharaonic  family  and  a  priest  of  the  Sera- 
peum.     It  may  be  that  Seti  is  the  man.     I  hope  he  is.^' 

'^I  confess/^  said  Aleph,  *^that  the  man  has  quite 
taken  possession  of  me.  It  seems  to  me  that  I  would  be 
willing  to  venture  almost  anything  on  his  thorough  up- 
rightness and  even  grandeur  of  character,  although  I 
have  known  him  but  such  a  short  time.  Did  you  notice 
what  an  aspect  he  turned  on  the  Roman  just  after  the 
blow  ?  Had  not  the  fellow  been  besotted,  the  surprised 
majesty  of  that  look  alone  would  have  quelled  him.  But 
how  is  it  possible  for  such  a  man  to  be  a  worshipper  of 
brutes,  and  even  to  act  as  their  priest  ?  " 

*^  That  is  not  a  question  easily  answered,^'  replied  the 
Greek.  ^^  But  probably  Seti,  like  all  superior  Egyptian 
priests  from  time  immemorial,  believes  in  a  religion  for 
the  few  and  another  religion  for  the  many.  The  doctrine 
of  One  God  to  be  worshiped  without  sensible  figures  is 
for  the  few  elect  who  are  prepared  for  it ;  the  lower 
classes  in  general  are  not  prepared  for  it,  but  need  to 
have  the  various  divine  attributes  shadowed  out  to  them 
in  sensible  forms  ;  and  as  no  forms  that  man  can  make 
are  equal  to  even  the  familiar  living  creatures  with  their 
wonderful  mysteries  of  internal  structure,  these  are  offered 
to  assist  the  feeble  thought  of  feeble  men.  Of  course,  this 
is  all  wrong  ;  but  it  is  a  wrong  imbedded  in  the  traditions 
and  prejudices  of  ages,  and  so  not  easily  escaped  from. 
Jehovah  makes  allowances  for  such  people,  whether  their 
names  be  Socrates  and  Plato  or  Zoroaster  and  Seti.  Aris- 
totle says  that  some  of  our  species  have  gold  blended  in 
their  composition  from  the  very  beginning.  Seti  seems 
to  me  one  of  these." 


22  THE    CARAVANSARY. 

By  this  time  the  sun  was  below  the  west  side  of  the 
khan,  and  the  open  court  was  quite  in  the  shade.  This 
brought  out  into  it  and  the  surrounding  piazzas  all  the 
guests.  It  was  a  motley  to  see  as  well  as  to  hear.  Almost 
every  nation  seemed  represented,  almost  every  style  of 
features  and  costume.  There  were  Eomans,  Greeks, 
Phenicians,  Egyptians,  Persians,  Arabs,  and  even  a 
sprinkling  of  natives  from  Gaul,  Spain,  and  other  places. 
Such  a  variety  of  faces,  dress,  and,  when  one  listened  at- 
tentively, of  speech  !  A  drag-net  of  all  seas  was  Nathan's 
khan. 

Aleph  was  all  eyes  and  ears.  The  scene  was  full  of 
novelty  and  interest  to  him.  At  length,  turning  to  his 
companion,  he  said  : 

^^This  scene  reminds  me  of  what  I  have  often  heard 
you  and  my  father  say." 

^' And  what  is  that  ?"  asked  Cimon.  '^  Your  father, 
at  least,  is  wont  to  say  wise  things  beyond  any  man  I  ever 
knew." 

^■^That,  wide  as  is  the  variety  of  religious  beliefs 
among  men,  they  believe  alike  in  certain  main  respects. 
What  differences  among  the  faces  before  us  as  to  color, 
size,  proportion  of  parts,  expression  ;  and  yet  they  are  all 
faces,  all  human  faces,  all  faces  having  the  same  general 
plan  of  structure  and  location  of  the  various  organs." 

"  Yes,"  added  the  elder  ;  '^  Homines  diver  si  sed 
homines,  as  said  a  Roman  before  you.  And  see  how 
various  the  costume  ;  and  yet  it  is  all  clothing, — all  cloth- 
ing that  recognizes  the  warm  climate,  the  season  of  the 
year,  and  to  a  certain  extent  the  time  of  day  and  the  con- 
venience of  travelers." 

'^And  you  might  add,"  continued  the  young  man. 


THE    CARAVANSARY.  23 

after  a  moment  of  close  listening,  "  that  it  is  just  so  with 
the  various  articulate  sounds  that  come  to  us.  While 
they  (liifer  in  tone,  in  time,  in  syntax,  in  dialect,  they 
are  all  speech,  all  articulate  speech,  and,  for  the  most 
part,  speech  so  much  of  the  Greek  pattern  as  to  be  intel- 
ligible to  nearly  all  of  us." 

'^  Yes,"  said  Cimon,  "  and  I  suppose  that  it  is  very 
much  so  with  the  religious  beliefs  of  these  people. 
Though  their  creeds  differ  much  among  themselves,  they 
are  alike  in  many  most  important  particulars.  They  all 
recognize  a  realm  of  spiritual  beings  superior  to  man,  a 
Supreme  Deity,  his  concern  in  human  affairs,  messages 
from  him,  our  responsibility  to  him,  a  future  state  of  re- 
wards and  punishments,  and  the  main  principles  of  good 
morals.  There  may  be  some  exceptions ;  for  these,  I  un- 
derstand, are  skeptical  times  in  the  Roman  world.  Almost 
everything  is  called  in  question  among  the  philosophers, 
even  the  fact  that  there  is  something  to  be  called  in 
question  ;  though  it  is  found  hard  to  get  men  to  question 
that  the  Romans  are  masters,  that  Tiberius  reigns,  and 
that  Alexandria  is  the  greatest  emporium  of  the  world. 
But  the  vagaries  of  the  schools  make  but  little  impression 
on  the  people  at  large.  They  never  have  done  so.  The 
more  fundamental  beliefs  have  kept  a  firm  hold  on  all 
nations  and  ages.  A  little  pool  will  show  the  heavens  as 
well  as  the  ocean.  This  khan  is  a  little  pool ;  and  at  the 
bottom  of  it,  amid  many  wrinkles  and  clouds,  one  can 
discover  many  of  the  larger  stars  of  religious  truth  which 
have  shone  on  the  world  from  the  beginning." 

"And  how  do  you  account  for  these  universal  be- 
liefs ?  "  asked  Aleph. 

"It  seems  to  me  that  they  came  from  a  Divine  re  vela- 


24  THE    CARAVANSARY. 

tion  to  the  first  fathers  of  the  race,  and  that  they  were 
carried  forth  with  them  as  they  gradually  dispersed  from 
their  original  seats,  and  that  they  took  root  so  deeply  in 
the  needs  and  reasons  of  men  tliat  no  evil  circumstances 
luive  been  able  to  remove  them     It  seems  to  me  that  as 
all  the  routes  of  trade  in  our  day  naturally  converge  on 
Alexandria,  so  the  natural  highways  of  thought  and  need 
all  over  the  world  converge  on  these  fundamental  truths." 
"No  doubt  you  also  think  it  reasonable  to  believe 
that  Deity,  who  made  the  deposits  with  the   race,  has 
been  personally  active  all  along  to  preserve  it,  as  a  broad 
ground  for    responsibility  and   further    enlightenment  ? 
In  addition  to  a  mighty  undertow  in  human  nature  itself 
toward  these  fundamental  truths,  there  are  winds  and  cur- 
rents of  external  circumstance  setting  in  the  same  direc- 
tion by  the  personal  agency  of  the  Most  High.'' 
"  Just  so.     But  look  at  those  men  ! '' 
The  two  persons  pointed  at  had  been  sitting  not  far 
away  in  the  open  court,   conversing  in  a  low  tone.     By 
degrees  their  conversation  had  become  more  animated  and 
loud,  until  now  they  were  earnestly  gesturing  and  talking 
so  as  to  be  distinctly  understood  at  a  distance.    It  seemed 
that  one  of  the  disputants  was  a  Phenician,  and  was  en- 
deavoring to  settle  an  account  of  long  standing  with  an 
Alexandrian  dealer  in  Tyrian  dyes,  to  whom  these  goods 
had  from  time  to  time  been    consigned.      This    dealer 
claimed  that  several  of  the  consignments  had  been  short 
in  both  quantity  and  quality  ;  and  so  offered  about  half 
the  regular  price  for  the  whole  lot. 

The  other  protested,  called  Baal  and  Ashtarotli  to  wit- 
ness that  his  claim  was  just ;  said  that  he  had  trusted  for 
so  long  and  for  so  much,  that  if  his  accounts  were  not  now 


THE   CARAVANSARY.  25 

allowed,  he  would  be  ruined.  lie  had  arrived  from  Sidon 
some  days  before,  expressly  for  the  purpose  of  trying  to 
get  a  settlement,  but  had  till  now  been  unable  to  get  even 
an  interview  with  the  dealer,  who  was  always  too  busy  to 
see  him,  but  had  at  last  agreed  to  have  his  agent  meet  him 
at  the  khan.  This  was  the  meeting.  The  Phenician  had 
at  first  quietly  represented  the  hardships  of  his  case  with 
some  hope  of  softening  the  agent,  but,  growing  desperate, 
he  hotly  rose  from  his  seat  and  exclaimed  in  a  voice  that 
was  almost  a  wail : 

"  I  shall  be  undone, — quite  undone  !  Have  you  no 
mercy  ?  " 

"  Not  much,"  said  the  other,  ''for  some  people."' 

"  Thou  flint  !  Before  all  the  gods  my  claim  is  just. 
What  shall  I  do  ?     My  children  will  starve." 

"  Let  them.  The  fewer  such  brats  the  better.  Busi- 
ness is  business.  Take  what  I  offer  or  nothing.  You 
have  only  yourself  to  blame  ;  you  shouldn't  cheat  so." 

"  Cheat !  "  exclaimed  the  Phenician  in  a  transport  of 
wrath  that  for  the  moment  drank  up  his  tears  like  a  hot 
blast  from  the  desert.  "  Cheat !  you  Cretan  rascal  !  You 
are  a  pretty  fellow  to  advise  against  cheating  ;  you  who,  I 
verily  believe,  never  did  anything  else  ;  nor  your  fathers 
either,  for  that  matter.  AVho  does  not  know  what  the 
honesty  of  a  Cretan  is  worth  ?  " 

By  this  time  many  had  gathered  around.  Turning  to 
them,  the  Phenician  besought  their  help  to  make  his 
debtor  do  him  justice. 

"  Why  not  go  to  the  judge  ?  "  said  a  by-stander. 

''Ah,  my  friend,  I  have  been  imprudent.  I  cannot 
prove  that  my  goods  were  all  right ;  for  I  was  so  careless 
that  I  took  it  for  granted  that  I  was  dealing  with  an  lion- 


26  THE    CARAYANSARY. 

est  man,  and  so  neglected  to  have  them  examined  and 
registered  at  Sidon.  Besides,  if  I  had  done  this,  how- 
could  I  know  but  that  the  packages  had  been  tampered 
with  on  their  way  here?  I  could  not  swear  that  they 
came  into  this  man's  hands  in  as  good  condition  as  they 
were  when  they  left  mine.  But  he  could  swear  to  any- 
thing. Why  shouldn't  he  ?  He  told  me  a  little  while 
ago,  while  Ave  were  opening  our  conference  with  some 
general  talk,  that  he  did  not  believe  in  any  god  or  here- 
after ;  in  short,  that  he  had  no  religion  of  any  sort.  What 
is  to  keep  such  a  man  from  wronging  his  neighbor  out  of 
his  dues  when  it  can  be  done  safely  ? "' 

"  This  man  speaks  truth,"  said  a  substantial  looking 
man  hard  by ;  ^'  for,  as  I  was  passing  here  some  time  ago, 
I  overheard  this  atheist  sneering  at  all  religion.  Said  I 
to  myself,  that  man  is  a  rogue.  Is  cheating  too  bad  a 
thing  for  such  a  fellow  to  do  ?     Hassan  thinks  not. " 

On  this  another  cried  out  :  ''  Some  of  us  know  Hassan. 
His  word  is  good.  I  think  as  he  does  :  that  a  man  who 
has  robbed  himself  of  his  conscience  would  not  hesitate  to 
rob  a  Phenician  of  his  goods.'' 

i'  Exactly  so,"  said  another  just  behind,  as  he  gave  his 
neighbor  a  push  toward  the  Cretan.  ^^  A  man  who  does 
not  believe  in  anything  good  believes  in  everything  bad." 

'''Oh,  the  fellow  is  an  imitation  philosopher,  is  he? 
The  genuine  is  bad  enough,  but  an  imitation  is  worse — 
mere  husks.  And  husks  are  thrown  away.  Let's  throw 
him  away ; "  and  the  speaker  drew  his  girdle  a  "bit 
tighter. 

''And  /would  not  trust  the  rascal  with  a  fig,"  cried 
another,  as  he  shied  a  rather  sorry  specimen  of  the  fruit 
at  the  Cretan. 


THE   CABAVAN-SARY.  27 

'*  Hustle  him  out — hustle  him  out/'  cried  several  at 
once,  throwing  up  their  hands. 

The  crowd  seemed  on  the  point  of  doing  it.  The 
Cretan  turned  pale  as  he  saw  them  moving  upon  him, 
and  began  to  retreat  toward  the  gate.  Seeing  this,  some  of 
the  people  ran  and  planted  themselves  in  the  way.  Find- 
ing himself  intercepted,  the  man  jumped  on  a  bench  and 
cried  in  a  frightened  voice  : 

"Friends,  do  not  harm  me.  lam  only  an  agent  in 
this  matter.  I  do  what  I  am  bid.  My  principal  is 
Malus." 

Mains,  Mains — the  word  passed  from  mouth  to  mouth 
in  a  low  tone.  It  seemed  magical.  At  once  the  outcry 
ceased.  The  billow  of  angry  faces  and  hands  that  was 
rushing  toward  the  Cretan  suddenly  stood  still,  and  then 
slowly  broke  into  many  little  whispering,  murmuring 
whirlpools.  The  way  to  the  gate  was  no  longer  barred, 
and  the  Cretan  made  his  way  to  it  precipitately,  and  dis- 
appeared.    There  was  no  danger  of  j^ursuit. 

The  Phenician  sat  down  again,  and  covered  his  face 
with  his  hands.  Our  two  friends  talked  together  for  a 
few  moments  in  a  low  tone.  Then  Aleph  rose  and  went 
to  the  man ;  and,  after  exchanging  a  few  words  with  him, 
conducted  him  to  Cimon.  A  long  conversation  followed. 
At  last  Cimon  came  forward  to  the  edge  of  the  piazza, 
and  beckoned  for  attention.  He  already  had  it — had  in- 
deed been  having  it  for  some  time  ;  but  seeing  the  gesture, 
the  people  came  nearer. 

"I  do  not  express  any  opinion,"  said  the  Greek,  "as 
to  the  justice  of  this  man's  cause.  We  have  not  at  pres- 
ent the  means  for  judging  that.  But,  unless  all  the  usual 
marks  fail,  this  is  a  case  of  genuine  distress  -,  and  one  that 


28  THE   CARAVANSARY. 

is  not  likely  to  be  helped  by  a  resort  to  the  courts.  The 
mini  confesses  that  he  has  been  imprudent.  Besides,  he 
is  too  poor  to  bear  the  expense  of  a  suit.  And  if  he  could, 
a  suit  would  probably  be  in  vain.  When  the  weak  con- 
tend with  the  powerful,  the  weak  must  go  to  the  wall. 
So,  rightly  or  wrongly,  the  poor  man  will  lose  his  debt ; 
his  family  will  suffer,  and  he  will  be  in  danger  of  losing 
all  heart  by  losing  in  his  old  age  the  labor  of  years.  I 
propose  that  we  help  him.  The  sum  lost,  though  large 
to  him,  would  not  be  large  to  us.  A  small  contribution 
from  each  of  us  will  set  him  on  his  feet  again.  Who  of 
you  will  join  me  in  making  it,  perhaps  in  righting  a  great 
wrong  ?  " 

And,  stepping  forward,  he  laid  a  piece  of  gold  on  the 
bench  where  the  Phenician  had  sat.  Aleph  rose  and  put 
another  by  the  side  of  it.  Hassan  promptly  came  up  and 
did  the  same.  The  example  was  followed  by  others,  until 
at  last  Aleph,  coming  forward  and  examining  the  amount 
contributed,  pronounced  it  quite  sufficient  to  cover  the 
loss.     He  handed  the  sum  to  the  Phenician. 

The  man  seemed  for  a  moment  almost  bewildered  as 
he  received  it.  He  then  fell  on  his  knees  and  thanked 
his  gods  in  a  few  trembling  words  ;  then  springing  to  his 
feet,  he  lifted  up  his  voice  and  wept.  At  last  he  found 
words  and  composure  enough  to  say  to  the  people  : 

''  My  friends,  you  have  saved  me.  I  was  ready  to  die  ; 
would  gladly  have  died  a  few  moments  ago  ;  but  now  I 
can  live,  because  my  family  can.  I  bless  you  in  the  name 
of  my  little  children.  You  may  be  sure  that  you  have 
not  helped  a  rogue  ;  the  facts  are  as  I  have  given  them. 
Before  the  gods  I  am  an  honest  man,  though  I  could  not 
prove  it  before  your  judges.     Again  I  thank  you  ;  and," 


THE   CARAVANSARY.  29 

turning  to  Cimon  and  Aleph,  ''especially  these  two 
friends,  who,  though  strangers  to  me,  have  this  day  stood 
between  me  and  ruin.  If  Sansciano  ever  forgets  them, 
may  .   .  .'' 

Here  he  fairly  broke  down,  and  suddenly  turning  to 
one  of  the  pillars  that  supported  the  piazza,  buried  his 
face  in  his  hand. 

The  sudden  night  of  Egypt  was  now  upon  them,  and 
the  torches  began  to  flame.  After  exchanging  a  few  more 
words  with  the  Phenician,  the  two  friends  withdrew  to 
their  rooms  ;  but  not  before  they  had  caught  glimpse  of 
a  Roman  uniform  entering  the  little  office  near  the  gate 
of  the  court.  Did  it  give  them  any  uneasiness  ?  I  hope 
not.  Borrowing  trouble  is  poor  business.  Sufficient  unto 
the  day  is  the  evil  thereof.  And  then,  is  there  not  a 
shield  broad  as  the  heavens  above  the  good  ?  Trust  it, 
ye  strangers,  and  go  to  sleep — if  ye  are  indeed  good. 

Ai'e  they  good  men  ?  For  one,  I  am  inclined  to 
believe  in  them.  Not  so  much  because  of  their  good 
looks,  as  because  they  look  good.  Not  so  much  from 
what  they  have  said  and  done  during  the  few  hours  of 
our  acquaintance  with  them,  as  from  a  certain — well,  let 
the  word  be  written,  though  deservedly  somewhat  un- 
poi^ular  of  late — intuition.  There  is  something  wonder- 
fully prepossessing  in  the  look  of  both  these  strangers. 
It  is  hard  to  say  what  that  something  is  that  so  bespeaks 
confidence,  but  that  it  exists  and  speaks  mightily  there 
is  no  denying — at  least  by  me.  I  seem  to  look  right 
through  those  frank  and  fearless  yet  kind  eyes  into 
noble  souls.  It  may  be  only  a  seeming.  I  shall  not 
attempt  to  Justify  myself  to  the  philosophers.  If  they 
choose   to   remind   me   that  appearances  are  sometimes 


30  THE   CARAVANSARY. 

deceptive ;  that  virtue  is  often  very  cleverly  imitated ;  in 
shorty  that  old  proverbs  declare  that  '^All  is  not  gold 
that  glitters/' and  that  ''Fair  outsides  often  cover  foul 
insides/'  I  have  nothing  to  say  against  it.  I  shall  not 
argue  the  case  with  them.  They  would  have  the  best  of 
it  from  the  arguing  stand-point.  Intuitions  cannot  be 
defended.  So  I  will  do  nothing  but  express  a  modest 
opinion  that  such  well-appearing  people  will  turn  out  as 
good  as  they  look.  Even  this,  no  doubt,  will  look  suffi- 
ciently foolish  to  some ;  and  should  they  conclude  to 
suspend  judgment  as  to  the  character  of  Cimon  and 
Aleph  till  they  have  seen  more  of  them  in  the  progress 
of  the  narrative,  I  shall  not  complain.  They  are  acting 
sensibly — as  the  world  goes.  They  certainly  are  on  very 
safe  ground.  ''By  their  fruits  ye  shall  know  them"  is 
a  maxim  whose  authority  cannot  be  controverted.  And 
if,  in  the  application  of  this  maxim,  they  shall  discover 
that  the  two  strangers  are  no  better  than  they  should  be, 
or  as  bad  as  the  worst,  I  can  only  hang  my  head  in  con- 
fusion, and  confess  that  the  logic  of  experience  is  better 
than  intuition — 7ny  intuition. 


III. 
THE     BANKER. 

Td  xpW^Tf^  VEVfia  Tuv  TrpayfiuTuv. 

Plutarch,  Cleom.  27. 

3Io7iey,  the  sinews  of  business. 


1.  A  financial  enri^peror. 

2.  Hi«  greatest  treasure. 

3.  Pharisees  and  SaddtAcees. 
4:.    Poor  Nliriann! 


III. 

THE    BANKER, 

~Y"TT'HETHER  Cimon  and  Aleph  slept  the  sleep  of  the 
V  V  just  we  must  leave  to  be  settled  in  the  progress  of 
the  narrative.  I  am,  I  again  confess,  prepossessed  in  their 
favor.  At  any  rate,  they  slej)t  so  soundly  that  most  of 
the  guests  of  the  khan  had  gone  off  on  their  various 
affairs  before  the  two  friends  made  their  appearance. 

Perhaps,  too,  they  were  delayed  by  a  cause  that  did 
not  delay  many  of  their  fellow-guests — morning  worship. 
It  seems  that  they  acknowledged  Jehovan  and  a  revelation 
from  him  ;  and  it  is  to  be  presumed  that  such  people  be- 
gan their  day  in  the  reasonable  and  old-fashioned  way. 
When  have  devout  believers  not  acted  on  the  principle 
that  prayer  and  provender  hinder  no  man's  journey  ? 
Besides,  they  breakfasted  in  their  own  room  ;  whereas 
most  inmates  of  the  khan  patronized  the  cook  shops  that 
abounded  in  the  neighborhood. 

After  the  meal  they  went  out  and  seated  themselves 
on  the  bench  they  had  occupied  the  evening  before. 

''  The  first  thing  to  be  done,"  said  Cimon,  ''  is  to  find 
a  suitable  banker  and  open  an  account  with  him  for  such 
Alexandrian  funds  as  we  may  need.  As  one  of  our  objects 
requires  that  we  be  unknown,  and  especially  that  our  con- 
nection with  your  father  should  not  reach  the  ears  of 


34  THE    BANKER. 

Mains,  we  cannot  use  our  draft  on  liim  except  in  case  of 
absolute  necessity.  We  must  depend  on  the  jewels.  And 
they  are  too  valuable  to  be  trusted  to  any  but  the  best 
hands.  If  tlie  Jewish  family  that  held  the  alabarchate 
when  1  was  here  last  is  still  in  business,  this  would  be  the 
one  to  apply  to.  They  were  as  noted  for  their  integrity 
as  for  their  immense  wealth  and  influence  at  Rome.  I 
will  go  and  ask  our  dei3uty-liost  whether  they  have  now 
any  representative  in  Alexandria.  ^^ 

After  a  short  absence  the  Greek  returned  with  two 
canes  in  his  hand,  and  with  the  information  that  the  old 
banking-house  was  flourishing  more  than  ever  in  the  per- 
son of  Alexander,  the  son  of  the  old  Alabarch ;  that  the 
son  had  succeeded  to  all  his  father's  honors  and  more 
than  his  father's  wealth  ;  and  that,  as  the  imperial 
banker,  his  influence  at  Rome  was  supposed  to  be  even 
greater  than  among  his  own  people  for  whom  he  had 
lately  enriched  the  nine  gates  of  the  temple  at  Jerusalem 
with  gold  plates  of  enormous  value.  It  was  generally 
understood  in  the  city  that  he  had  lately  prevented  cer- 
tain oppressive  measures  against  the  Jews  of  Antioch  by 
threatening  to  withhold  a  loan.  Some  went  so  far  as  to 
tell  how  many  millions  of  sesterces  each  minute  brought 
him,  and  even  supposed  that  he  had  discovered  the  art  of 
turning  base  metals  into  gold. 

'^  I  am  sorry  that  we  did  not  ask  Seti  about  the  pres- 
ent Alabarch, ^^  said  Cimon  ;  ''  but  I  have  no  doubt  from 
what  I  know  of  the  family  that  he  is  the  person  to  whom 
we  should  apply.'^ 

"  I  have  also  learned  two  other  facts,"  he  continued. 
"  One  is  that  the  greatest  galley  in  all  the  three  harbors 
is  Malus  himself,  and  that  the  Cretan  of  last  night  is  one 


THE   BANKER.  35 

of  several  small  tenders  that  wait  on  the  great  ship  and 
do  its  meaner  work — which  means  that  the  oversight  of 
the  harbors  and  of  the  import  trade  has  mainly  fallen 
into  the  hands  of  Mains  and  his  agents^  and  that  the  fear 
of  him  is  on  all  small  dealers,  whom  he  could  easily  crush, 
especially  as  he  is  on  the  best  of  terms  with  the  Roman 
authorities  of  the  city.  The  other  fact  is  that  a  Roman 
soldier  was  at  the  khan-office  last  night  to  inquire  whether 
two  men  (describing  us)  were  staying  here.  The  deputy 
said  that  he  managed  not  to  enlighten  the  man  much — 
as  it  was  always  safe  to  assume  that  what  a  Roman  wanted 
to  know  ought  not  to  be  known.  ^^ 

^^  Would  it  not  be  well  for  us/'  said  the  young  man, 
^'  to  make  some  changes  in  our  dress  so  as  to  embarrass 
such  inquiries?  ...  I  am  glad  to  see  that  you  have  brought 
in  your  hand  something  to  help  us  discourage  unpleasant 
recognitions, '^  he  added  with  a  smile  and  a  glance  at  the 
canes.     ^'  They  have  a  tough  and  serviceable  look.'' 

"  They  certainly  may  be  useful  on  occasion.  But 
every  gentleman  in  Alexandria  is  in  the  habit  of  carrying 
a  cane  ;  for  us  to  do  the  same  will  help  ward  off  notice  as 
well  as  assault.  Dogs  and  donkeys  abound  ;  and  some  of 
them  walk  on  two  legs.  A  stout  stick,  with  your  skill  at 
fence  and  thrust,  will  be  almost  as  good  as  a  sword.  ...  As 
to  making  some  changes  in  dress,  I  think  your  suggestion 
a  good  one.  I  also  think  that  it  would  be  well  for  you, 
at  least,  to  dress  somewhat  more  richly  to-day,  inasmuch 
as  you  must  be  the  one  to  do  our  business  with  the  banker. 
Till  one  is  known  appearance  goes  far.  Meanwhile  I  will 
brush  up  my  knowledge  of  the  city  and  its  people.  We 
will  meet  here  late  in  the  day." 

Cimon  then  produced  his  tablets  and  drew  on  them  a 


36  THE   BANKER. 

rough  plan  of  the  city— one  central  street,  two  hundred 
feet  broad,  running  between  the  lake  and  the  sea  from  the 
gate  of  the  Moon  to  the  gate  of  the  Sun,  and  called  Em- 
porium Street :  this  crossed  in  the  middle  at  right  angles 
by  another  street  of  similar  breadth,  but  of  much  less 
lencrth,  called  the  street  of  Canopus,  ending  on  the  west 
at  the  gate  of  the  Necropolis,  and  on  the  east  at  the  gate 
of  Canopus  :  these  two  main  streets  cut  at  right  angles  by 
all  the  rest :  here,  in  the  south-east,  the  Jews'  quarter, 
occupying  two  of  the  five  divisions  of  the  city  :  there, 
north  of  this  quarter  and  extending  to  the  two  harbors 
Eunostus  and  Kibotus,  and  including  all  the  frontage  on 
these  harbors  called  Bruchium,  the  Greek  and  Koman 
quarters.     These  latter  also  include  a  narrow  section  of 
the  city  lying  along  the  whole  length  of  Emporium  Street 
on  the  west.     Just  west  of  this  section  is  Rachotis  or  the 
Egyptian  quarter,  in  the  southern  part  of  which,  on  the 
highest  ground  in  the   city,  stands  the  Serapeum,  the 
famous  temple  of  Jupiter  Serapis. 

"  Entering  at  the  gate  of  the  Moon,"  continued  Cimon, 
''  you  are  to  pass  up  Emporium  Street  till  you  come  to 
the  street  of  Canopus  :  here  turn  to  your  right,  and,  after 
a  short  walk,  you  will  find  by  inquiry  the  place  of  the 


great  banker. 


i) 


Surely,  the  way  was  so  plain  that  no  guide  would  be 
needed.  So,  after  making  some  changes  in  his  dress, 
Aleph  took  his  cane  and  set  forth. 

By  this  time  the  whole  Alexandrian  world,  the  most 
industrious  and  bustling  world  known  in  ancient  times, 
was  in  full  movement.  Sucli  tides  of  men  surging  from 
sea  to  lake  and  from  lake  to  sea— such  tides  of  donkeys 
and  horses  and  camels  going  and  coming— such  a  menage- 


THE   BAKKER.  37 

rie  and  roar  of  sounds  from  the  tramp  of  thousands,  the 
shrill  calls  of  traders  hawking  their  wares,  the  cries  of  the 
animals  and  their  drivers,  the  infinite  clatter  from  the 
tools  of  artisans  of  every  name  pouring  out  from  the  open 
shops  far  and  near  !  Slowly  on  went  the  young  man, 
with  eyes  full  of  grave  interest,  along  the  splendid  thor- 
oughfare for  two  miles,  till  he  came  to  the  ornate  square, 
half  a  league  in  circumference,  from  the  centre  of  which 
one  could,  without  changing  his  place,  see  the  lake  on 
the  south  and  the  harbors  with  their  dividing  mole 
(Heptastadium)  and  its  Pharos  on  the  north,  as  well  as 
the  sands  of  the  desert  at  both  ends  of  the  street  of 
Canopus.  Turning  down  this  street  to  the  east  under 
one  of  the  magnificent  colonnades  that  skirted  it  on 
either  hand,  he  noticed  as  he  advanced  not  only  that  the 
leading  places  of  business  were  held  by  Jews  (a  fact  that 
he  had  noticed  on  the  other  street),  but  that  the  farther 
he  went  the  more  people  he  saw  with  Jewish  features. 

Before  he  had  gone  very  far,  two  young  men  with 
caps  and  black  gowns,  something  like  the  present  English 
university,  dress,  hurried  by  him  ;  one  saying  to  the  other 
as  they  passed  : 

"  The  earlier  at  the  Alabarch's  the  better.  First 
come,  first  served,  you  know." 

Aleph  quickened  his  pace  so  as  to  keep  near  them. 
They  soon  came  to  what  seemed  a  fortress  rather  than  a 
private  dwelling  or  place  of  business — solid  stone,  no  win- 
dows on  the  first  story,  length  on  the  street  several  times 
that  of  an  ordinary  dwelling.  Solidity  and  strength 
rather  than  show  was  the  impression  given — no  elaborate 
carvings,  no  pillars  of  porphyry  and  cornelian,  but  plain, 
massive,  mob-defying  marble ;  in  short,  an  architectural 


38  THE   BANKER. 

safe.  This  structure  was  on  a  corner.  Turning  the  cor- 
ner, the  young  men  came  by  a  few  steps  to  a  small  door. 
Aleph  followed  closely  ;  and  when  the  door  opened  to  the 
others,  he  entered  with  them  and  was  ushered  into  a  re- 
ception-room close  by,  where  many  others  were  already 
waiting  their  turn  to  be  called  into  the  presence  of  the 
financial  magnate. 

Soon  a  servant  presented  on  a  silver  salver  tablets  to 
the  new-comers,  on  which  each  should  write  his  name. 
When  the  tablets  came  to  Aleph  he  noticed  that  the 
names  of  the  two  young  men  who  had  just  written  were 
P.  Cornelius,  Serapeum,  and  Q.  Metellus,  Museu7n, 
What  did  he  write  ?  After  a  moment's  hesitation  he  wrote 
Aleph,  the  Chaldean,  khan  near  the  gate  of  the  Moon. 

There  were  several  academic  uniforms  in  the  room 
(each  with  a  conspicuous  gold  badge  in  front)  that  seemed 
well  acquainted  with  one  another,  and  not  disposed  to 
lose  the  time  of  waiting,  possibly  long,  in  silence.  Some 
talked  together  with  great  enthusiasm  of  a  boat-race  that 
had  come  off  the  day  before  on  the  lake  :  others  discussed 
the  merits  of  various  recent  performances  in  the  palasstra, 
especially  those  of  a  certain  noted  athlete  and  trainer  who 
had  just  arrived  from  Rome  :  two  agreed  that  there  was 
nothing  worth  living  for  but  the  noble  art  of  fencing,  and 
that  the  greatest  living  master  of  the  art  was  one  Draco  of 
Rhodes,  of  whom  they  were  taking  lessons.  A  knot  of 
dudes  were  comparing  breast-pins  and  finger-rings  and 
experiences  at  the  last  fashionable  party ;  or  boasting  of 
the  successful  tricks  they  had  played  on  the  lecturers  at 
the  Museum,  and  of  how  they  managed  to  evade  many  of 
the  lectures  and  dehule  their  parents  and  other  friends  at 
home  with  the  idea  that  they  were  hard  at  work  digging 


THE   BANKER.  39 

into  all  the  sciences  and  philosophies  and  living  like  her- 
mits on  crusts  and  water.     Some  were  ready  to  burst  with 
merriment  over  some  practical  jokes  they  had  played  on 
some  citizen  or  new-comer  at  the  Museum  ;  or  at  the  way 
in  which  they  had  baffled  the  police  in  a  midnight  brawl. 
The  two  students  who  came  in  with  Aleph  seemed 
better  to  deserve  the  name.     They  had  just  come  from  a 
lecture  by  Philo,  a  brother  of  the  Alabarch ;  and  found 
much  to  commend  in  his  ingenious  attempts  to  Hellenize 
the  Hebrew  writers  or  to  Hebraize  the  Greek— they  were 
uncertain  which  way  to  put  it.     They  agreed  that  he  was 
a  very  broad  man  and  ready  to  do  justice  to  great  men  of 
other  nationality  than  his  own.     They  were  also  hearing 
lectures  on  astronomy  and  Hipparchus  in  the  observatory 
rooms  at  the  Serapeum,  as  well  as  on  the  physics  and 
metaphysics  of  Aristotle  at  the  Museum. 

Aleph  was  not  sorry  to  have  this  little  insight  into 
student  life  in  Alexandria ;  and,  considering  the  number 
of  persons  in  the  room  on  his  arrival,  he  was  expecting  to 
have  a  still  longer  time  to  observe  and  listen,  when,  to  his 
surprise  and  apparently  to  that  of  others  around,  a  special 
servant  came  to  conduct  him  to  the  banker. 

After  passing  through  a  large  room  occupied  by  many 
persons  busy  at  desks,  and  crossing  a  broad  passage  from 
which  rose  a  flight  of  marble  steps,  they  came  to  a  small 
room  plainly  furnished,  in  which  were  seated  two  men. 
What  was  his  surprise  to  recognize  in  one  of  them  the 
Egyptian  Seti  !  The  pleasure  he  felt  sprang  at  once  to 
his  face,  as  he  advanced  with  a  warm  but  modest  greeting 
which  the  aged  man  cordially  reciprocated,  and  then  pre- 
sented him  to  the  Alabarch  as  ^^the  young  man  of  whom 
we  have  been  speaking." 


40  THE   BANKER. 

Alexander  was  a  Jew  to  the  sliglitest  inspection.  But 
his  features  though  national  were  royally  so,  aixl  might 
have  belonged  to  Solomon.  Their  whole  expression  be- 
spoke one  accustomed  to  great  thoughts  and  plans ;  while 
yet  a  certain  watchfulness,  like  distant  pickets  about  a 
royal  encampment,  looked  out  from  far  back  in  his  frank 
and  friendly  eyes  as  of  one  who  knows  that  all  sorts  of 
characters  will  come  to  a  banker,  and  who  knows  how  to 
protect  himself  on  occasion.  His  manners  were  polished 
and  courtly — as  might  have  been  expected  in  one  who 
dealt  only  with  the  highest  and  most  cultured  classes,  and 
was  even  a  companion  of  princes.  In  watching  him  one 
felt  sure  that  the  man  was  larger  than  his  wealth,  however 
large  that  might  be.  He  was  still  in  the  prime  of  life, 
and  without  a  thread  of  silver  in  his  dark  hair  and 
beard. 

Alexander  received  the  young  man  graciously,  though 
with  wide-open,  all-observing  eyes. 

"I  happened,"  said  the  Egyptian  to  Aleph,  ''to  be 
with  my  son  when  your  name  was  brought  in ;  and, 
though  you  gave  me  no  name  yesterday,  I  fancied  that 
tlie  Chaldean  was  the  friend  I  have  occasion  to  remember, 
and  that  his  first  business  would  naturally  be  with  a 
banker.  I  had  just  finished  explaining  how  we  met  when 
you  came  in." 

"  That  I  am  as  glad  as  surprised,"  returned  the  young 
man,  ''to  see  you  here  and  in  such  a  relation,  you  doubt- 
less have  already  discovered.  Perhaps  I  am  the  more  glad 
because  my  business  with  this  gentleman  is  such  as  may 
call  for  a  word  of  friendly  prepossession  in  my  favor  from 
one  who  is  known  here.  For  the  present  I  am  compelled 
to  remain  unknown.     I  can  only  appear  as  Aleph,  the 


THE  BAKKER.  41 

Chaldean,  in  company  with  his  preceptor  and  friend, 
Cimon  the  Athenian.  So  I  have  no  papers  to  present  on 
which  to  ask  an  open  account  for  him  and  myself,  within 
certain  limits,  with  a  banker.  I  have  only  certain  jewels 
to  place  in  his  hands,  of  the  value  of  which  he  must 
judge" — and  he  drew  from  the  bosom  of  his  tunic  a 
small  box  which  he  opened  and  handed  to  Alexander. 

The  banker  was  surprised.  In  all  his  wide  experience 
he  had  never  fallen  in  with  such  brilliants — so  large,  so 
beautifully  and  variously  hued,  with  such  soft  and  mystic 
fires  playing  about  them  and  raying  out  from  their  inmost 
depths.  A  pearl,  a  ruby,  a  sapphire,  and  a  diamond — 
that  was  all ;  but,  as  Alexander  turned  the  box  this  way 
and  that,  there  flashed  out  upon  him  such  lovely  lights 
as  he  had  never  seen  in  the  imperial  treasury  at  Rome, 
enriched  as  it  was  with  the  regalia  of  many  nations. 

After  carefully  taking  out  each  gem  and  examining  it 
on  all  sides,  and  then  as  carefully  replacing  it  in  its  luxu- 
rious bed,  Alexander  at  length  fetched  a  long  breath  and 
slowly  said : 

"  If  any  common  stranger  had  brought  me  these  re- 
markable jewels  I  should  have  demanded  to  know  his 
name  and  station — in  short,  that  he  is  the  rightful  owner 
of  such  a  treasure.  This  would  only  be  common  prudence. 
But  I  happen  to  have  an  uncommon  father-in-law,  who 
has  a  notion  that  he  has  a  gift  of  reading  character  in 
faces  and  bearing,  and  avIio  thinks  so  favorably  of  yours 
that  he  might  quarrel  with  me  if  I  should  deal  with  you 
on  strictly  business  principles.  I  should  be  sorry  to  have 
him  do  that.  Besides,  to  tell  the  truth,  I  have  something 
of  his  weakness  for  a  good  face  and  figure,  and  whatever 
else  that  indescribable  something  about  you  is  that  de- 


42  THE   BANKER. 

mauds  confidence.     So  I  think  I  will  venture  " — and  he 
threw  an  arch  look  and  smile  at  Seti. 

And  he  drew  two  sheets  of  papyrus  toward  himself. 
After  writing  for  some  time,  he  read  over  to  himself  care- 
fully what  he  had  written,  and  then  handed  the  sheet  to 
Aleph,  saying,  ''Is  this  satisfactory  ?'" 

The  young  man  read  a  full  description  of  the  box  and 
its  contents ;  an  acknowledgment  of  the  receipt  of  it  as 
basis  for  credit  to  the  extent  of  200,000  aurei  or  staters, 
to  be  drawn  upon  at  pleasure  in  large  or  small  sums  ;  also 
a  promise  to  restore  the  jewels  on  repayment  of  sums  ad- 
vanced with  a  moderate  interest. 

Aleph  pronounced  the  paper  entirely  satisfactory,  and 
far  more  favorable  than  he  had  any  reason  to  expect — 
adding,  however,  that  he  had  no  idea  of  making  any  large 
drafts  on  the  sum  pledged  ;  as  one  of  the  objects  he  had 
in  view  in  Alexandria  would  compel  him  to  live  in  a  very 
quiet  and  inexpensive  way,  even  if  it  were  not  a  matter  of 

choice. 

Alexander  then  proceeded  to  copy  the  document,  and 
to  affix  his  signature  and  seal  to  it  and  to  the  copy.  He 
retained  one  and  gave  the  other  to  Aleph,  with  a  parcel 
of  small  slips  of  papyrus  each  already  signed  by  himself, 
but  otherwise  blank,  saying  : 

''  Whenever  you  wish  current  money,  fill  in  one  of 
these  with  the  sum  desired,  in  your  own  handwriting  and 
with  your  name  as  given  to-day,  and  present  it  in  the 
room  through  which  you  passed  in  coming  here.  .  .  . 
Now  I  will  put  this  treasure  where  it  will  be  somewhat 
safer  than  it  was  when  walking  the  streets  of  Alexandria 
under  the  protection  of  a  cane " — and  he  rose  and  took 
the  box  and  his  copy  of  the  paper  he  had  just  executed  to 


THE   BAKKER.  43 

carry  them  into  an  adjoining  room  whose  door,  massive 
with  iron,  proclaimed  the  very  citadel  of  the  financial 
stronghold. 

**  Will  you  add  this  small  parcel  of  valuable  documents 
to  the  box?"  said  Aleph,  as  he  again  produced  from 
the  bosom  of  his  tunic  an  elaborately  tied  and  sealed 
parcel. 

Alexander  had  hardly  resumed  his  seat,  after  a  few 
momemts'  absence,  when  a  light  step  was  heard  descend- 
ing the  stairs  in  the  neighboring  passage,  the  door  softly 
opened  a  little,  then  wider,  and  after  a  moment  a  young 
lady  advanced  into  the  room.  Seti  and  Aleph  were  so 
seated  that  they  could  not  well  be  seen  from  the  door ; 
and  the  maiden  seeing  none  but  Alexander  went  hastily 
up  to  him,  put  her  hand  on  his  shoulder,  kissed  his  fore- 
head, and  said : 

"  Father,  word  has  just  been  brought  me  that  my  poor 
nurse  Miriam,  who  has  come  back  to  the  city  sick,  is 
now  dying,  and  wants  to  see  me.  May  I  take  a  servant 
with  me  and  go  ?  In  the  absence  of  my  mother  and 
brothers,  I  thought  I  had  better  come  directly  to  you,  as 
I  may  need  to  be  gone  for  some  time,  and  you  would  be 
alarmed  at  my  prolonged  absence." 

"  Certainly  I  would  have  been.  Take  two  servants  : 
then  you  can  send  one  of  them  back  for  anything  that 
may  be  needed.  Let  the  woman  have  every  possible  help 
and  comfort.  But,  Eachel,  you  do  not  notice  your  grand- 
father ! " — nodding  his  head  toward  Seti,  who  had  risen 
and  was  coming  toward  her. 

Rachel  turned  suddenly,  with  a  faint  exclamation  of 
surprise,  and  sprang  into  the  open  arms  of  the  Egyptian, 
exclaiming  : 


44  THE   BANKER. 

''  When  did  you  come?  I  thought  you  were  still  in 
Upper  Egypt.  IIow  glad  I  am  to  see  you,  my  dear  grand- 
father— as  glad  as  one  can  be  whose  foster-mother  lies 

dying  ! " 

*'  I  will  not  keep  you  from  her — only  to  answer  your 
question  by  saying  that  I  reached  the  city  safely  last  even- 
ing, thanks  to  a  young  friend  of  mine.  No  particulars  at 
present.  Perhaps  I  will  step  in  at  Miriam's  on  my  way 
home  (I  accidentally  heard  of  her  whereabouts  this  morn- 
ing), and  see  if  the  leech  has  done  his  best,  and,  if  not, 
whether  old  Egypt  can  do  better." 

"  Do,  grandfather,"  she  pleaded,  "  and  come  soon  : 
for  I  verily  believe  that  the  priest  Seti  knows  more  of  the 
healing  art  than  all  the  rest  of  Alexandria— the  daughters 
of  my  people  not  excepted." 

As  she  glided  toward  the  door  her  eye  rested  for  a 
moment  with  a  startled  look  on  Aleph.  He  had  till  now 
been  unobserved.  The  tall  form  of  Seti  had  been  inter- 
posed. She  hesitated  a  moment,  as  if  to  make  sure  that 
the  young  man  was  not  some  one  whom  she  ought  to 
recognize,  and  then  hastened  away. 

Ah,  those  great,  lovely  eyes  !  It  was  but  a  second  that 
their  inquiring  look  rested  on  him  ;  but  they  at  once  made 
him  forget  every  other  feature.  He  had  not  failed  to 
notice  her  faultless  figure,  the  queenly  carriage  of  her 
head,  the  easy  grace  and  even  majesty  of  her  every  move- 
ment ;  and  when  she  turned  to  greet  Seti  he  had  had  full 
view  of  an  exquisite  face,  hesitating  between  girlhood  and 
womanhood — a  face  wonderfully  luminous  with  a  certain 
spiritual  and  lofty  loveliness — but  the  moment  her  eyes 
shot  their  fires  into  his,  all  previous  impressions  vanished, 
and  he  saw  nothing  but  eyes,  eyes.     In  talking  over  the 


THE   BANKER.  45 

events  of  the  day  with  Cimon  at  the  khau  in  the  evening, 
he  could  not,  for  the  life  of  him,  remember  distinctly 
whether  she  was  tall  or  short,  dark  or  brown- haired,  light- 
complexioned  or  otherwise — he  could  only  remember  the 
glorious  eyes.  But  the  young  man  was  in  Alexandria  for 
a  purpose,  and  a  great  one  :  and  what  had  he  to  do  with  a 
maiden's  haunting  eyes?  Just  nothing  at  all.  So  he 
turned  his  own  eyes  to  the  business  in  hand  :  and  the 
effulgent  twin  stars  that  had  just  risen  above  his  horizon, 
contrary  to  the  order  of  Nature,  silently  sank  back  again 
and  disappeared — almost. 

He  rose  to  take  leave.  But  Alexander  said.  Wait  a 
little,  and  touched  a  string.  A  servant  appeared,  to 
whom  he  gave  some  directions  in  a  low  voice.  When  he 
had  dismissed  the  man,  he  said  that  he  had  just  sent  to 
notify  those  in  waiting  that  no  more  business  would  be 
done  to-day.  He  added  that  he  usually  closed  business 
earlier  on  the  sixth  day  of  the  week  out  of  regard  to  the 
sacred  seventh,  and  that  so  he  had  some  leisure  for  con- 
versation ;  if  the  young  man  would  resume  his  seat. 

"  Speaking  of  our  Sabbath,''  continued  he  ;  "  reminds 
me  that  I  ought  to  invite  you  to  our  place  of  worship  for 
to-morrow  :  for  I  learn  that  you  are  not  a  worshipper  of 
Belus  ?  " 

''  Hardly,"  said  Aleph  with  a  smile. 

"  Nor  a  fire- worshipper  ?'^ 

'^By  no  means.'^ 

"  Nor  a  worshipper  of  the  sun,  moon  and  stars  ?'^ 

^'^I  was  not  so  taught,"  emphatically. 

''  But  you  were  taught  to  worship  the  One  God  who 
made  the  heavens  and  the  earth,  and  who  spake  by  Moses 
and  our  other  prophets  ?  " 


46  THE   BANKER. 

"  Even  so  :  our  family  religion  for  generations  has 
been  that  of  the  Hebrews — as  being  the  most  credible  and 
satisfactory  within  our  knowledge.'' 

"^  Our  common  friend  here  could  not  tell  me  quite  as 
much  as  this,"  said  Alexander  with  a  gratified  look,  ''but 
I  am  glad  to  hear  it,  and  hope  to  learn  at  some  future 
time  how  your  family  came  into  possession  of  our  faith. 
You  observe  our  sacred  day  ?  " 

^'1  do,  as  does  also  my  companion.  Though  a  Greek 
by  birth,  lie  is  a  Hebrew  in  religion.  We  will  be  pleased 
to  accept  your  invitation  for  to-morrow.  AVhere  shall  we 
find  your  place  of  worship  ?  " 

"  We  Jews  are  300,000  strong.  So  there  are  several 
synagogues  in  the  city  ;  but  two  of  these  are  much  larger 
than  the  rest,  and  stand  for  two  different  schools  of  doc- 
trine among  us.  The  one  with  which  I  am  connected  is 
the  Diapleuston  and  is  on  the  street  of  Canopus,  not  far 
from  here.  The  other  is  on  Emporium  Street,  and  is  not 
so  large  as  ours,  but  still  has  many  substantial  adherents, 
of  whom  Mains,  our  chief  shipping  merchant,  is  the  most 
prominent.  Indeed,  I  think  that  he  is  now  the  chief  ruler 
of  his  synagogue.'' 

''May  I  ask,"  inquired  Aleph,  "what  tlie  doctrinal 
difference  between  the  two  synagogues  is  ?  " 

"  The  chief  difference,"  answered  x\lexander,  "  relates 
to  the  degree  of  authority  to  be  allowed  to  our  Sacred 
Books.  AVe  of  the  Diapleuston  say  that  their  authority  is 
final  on  all  matters  of  which  they  speak— that  their  writers 
were  so  guided  and  guarded  by  Jehovah  in  composing 
them  that  they  were  at  first  perfectly  free  from  mistake 
of  all  sorts :  while  the  other  school  maintain  that,  while 
properly  enough  said  to  bo  of  divine  origin,  our  Scriptures 


THE   BANKER.  47 

have  always  been  more  or  less  mistaken  in  their  teachings 
and  need  to  be  sifted  by  learned  men." 

*^  Do  these  men  offer  any  criterion  by  which  one  may 
separate  the  reliable  from  the  unreliable  ?  " 

'^  They  do  not  agree  on  any.  One  says  that  all  im- 
portant Scripture  statements  are  reliable ;  another  tells 
us  that  all  are  reliable,  save  in  the  domains  of  history  and 
science  ;  another  excludes  as  unreliable  all  but  positively 
religious  statements.^' 

''  Of  course  they  differ  widely  as  to  what  are  impor- 
tant or  strictly  religious  matters." 

'^  Certainly.  Whatever  statements  are  unsatisfactory 
to  a  man  for  any  reason  he  is  apt  to  think  of  small  conse- 
quence." 

"  And  I  should  suppose  the  other  test  might  be 
equally  elusive.  Is  there  not  room  for  considerable  dif- 
ference of  opinion  as  to  what  deserve  to  be  called  moral 
and  religious  statements?  " 

"  So  it  seems  :  and,  as  a  matter  of  fact.  Mains  and  his 
synagogue  agree  only  in  discrediting  those  parts  of  the 
Scriptures  that  are  in  the  narrative  form  and  a  large  part 
of  the  remainder.  Especially  are  they  prepared  to  admit 
the  possibility  of  mistake  to  almost  any  extent  in  Moses 
and  the  earlier  Scripture  writers.  Not  a  few  deny  that 
we  have  any  Moses.  AVhat  passes  under  the  ancient  name 
is  really  the  invention  of  recent  times.'' 

"  This  is  the  result  I  should  expect.  One  seems  to  be 
left  at  liberty  to  take  as  much  or  little  of  the  Scriptures 
as  suits  him  :  for  if  parts  of  them  are  unreliable,  and  we 
have  no  sure  way  of  determining  where  these  parts  are, 
we  will  be  likely  to  locate  them  where  our  prejudices  and 
inclinations  say.     The  larger  part  of  the  Book  may  easily 


48  THE   BANKER. 

be  considered  secular  or  unimportant  by  one  who  wishes 
as  much/' 

"Very  true,"  said  Alexander;  "and  see  what  the 
other  synagogue  have  actually  come  to  !  Some  reject  the 
doctrine  of  angels,  some  that  of  a  human  soul  distinct 
from  the  body,  some  that  of  personal  responsibility,  and 
nearly  all  that  of  miracles  and  all  other  forms  of  super- 
naturalism  in  history,  as  well  as  that  of  a  future  state  of 
settled  character  and  destiny  for  men.  And  so  on. 
Eeally,  between  them  all,  there  is  very  little  of  the  sacred 
Book  left.  The  sum  of  their  doubts  and  denials  would 
cover  almost  the  whole  of  it.  What  is  left  is  the  brief 
revelation  that  Mains,  the  Sadducee,  uses.  His  maxim 
is  to  discard  what  anybody  doubts. '' 

"  This  seems  to  me  a  sad  state  of  things,''  said  Aleph, 
fetching  a  long  breath  that  was  almost  a  sigh.  "  It  would 
be  almost  unimaginable  in  the  house  of  my  fathers. 
Practically  these  peoj^le  are  without  a  revelation.  The 
only  revelation  to  each  is  that  bundle  of  guesses  and  no- 
tions which  he  calls  his  knowledge  or  judgments  :  and 
there  are  about  as  many  different  revelations  of  this  sort 
as  there  are  men ;  and,  to  my  thinking,  they  are  all  about 
equally  worthless.  It  is  sad  that  circnmcised  people 
should  hold  such  uncircumcised  notions.'' 

"A sad  state  of  things,  indeed,"  consented  Alexander, 
"but  we  may  console  ourselves  with  the  fact  that  this  sad 
sort  of  people  are  a  minority  and  a  small  one,  and  have 
been  quite  unknown  among  our  people  till  quite  recent 
times.  I  trust  they  will  soon  become  unknown  again. 
When  the  Messiah,  whom  we  are  daily  looking  for,  comes 
and,  accrediting  himself  by  signs  and  wonders,   declares 


THE   BANKER.  4:9 

thcit  not  one  jot  or  tittle  of  the  law  shall  fail,  even  Mains 
will  have  a  revelation  that  is  worth  the  having." 

''May  He  come  quickly!''  said  the  young  man  de- 
voutly. 

Alexander  looked  intently  for  a  moment  on  the  kin- 
dling and  abstracted  face  before  him,  and  then  as  devoutly 

said  Amen. 

During  this  conversation  Seti  maintained  an  unbroken 
silence — his  arms  folded,  his  face  impassive,  but  his  eyes 
as  watchful  as  eagles'.  He  seemed  to  be  hearing  as  well 
as  seeing  with  those  ancient  eyes  of  his  that  n«ver  once 
left  the  face  of  Aleph. 

They  both  rose  at  the  same  time — Seti  saying  that  he 
would  walk  along  with  the  young  man  and  point  out  tlie 
Diapleuston  in  passing. 

The  Alabarch  courteously  escorted  them  through  the 
now  vacant  rooms  to  the  door ;  saying  to  Aleph,  as  he 
parted,  ''  Eemember — at  the  third  hour  to-morrow.  Come 
half  an  hour  earlier." 

Turning  into  the  street  of  Canopus,  and  going  west- 
ward under  the  colonnade,  they  soon  came  to  a  corner  on 
which  stood  an  imposing  structure  of  white  marble.  As 
Aleph  glanced  down  the  side  street  he  saw  that  the  length 
of  the  structure  was  immense  :  as  he  passed  to  the  front 
he  saw  that  its  breadth  was  nearly  as  great.  A  central 
part  raised  on  a  lofty  pediment,  surmounted  by  a  gilded 
dome,  and  supported  in  front  and  on  either  hand  by  im- 
mense monolith  columns,  was  surrounded  on  all  visible 
sides  at  a  little  distance  by  low  marble  cloisters — save 
where  a  broad  flight  of  steps  led  up  from  the  street  to  the 
great  doors.    From  the  wide  platform  at  the  top  the  great 


50  THE   BANKER. 

columns  rose  in  elaborately  wrought  clusters,  each  sup- 
porting an  ornate  capital,  architrave,  frieze,  and  cornice ; 
while,  behind,  the  whole  front  was  alive  with  spirited, 
sculpture  in  relief  of  the  Feast  of  Tabernacles. 

I  must  not  forget  to  add  that  at  one  angle  the  low 
cloisters  swelled  into  a  graceful  and  lofty  tower  that  ended 
in  a  parapet. 

"From  behind  that  parapet,''  said  Seti,  pointing, 
"  are  sounded  the  seventy  silver  trumpets  that  summon 
the  Jews  to  their  worship  ;  for  here  is  the  Diapleuston 
to  which  you  have  been  invited." 

They  passed  on  to  another  crossing. 

"Let  us  turn  down  this  street,"  said  the  Egyptian. 
"It  is  less  crowded  than  the  thoroughfare,  and  equally 
direct  for  both  of  us,  as  I  learn  that  you  are  staying  for 
the  present  near  where  we  landed  yesterday.  Besides,  I 
wish  to  stop  for  a  few  moments  with  the  sick  woman.  I 
am  afraid  of  these  Alexandrian  leeches.  Once  in  every 
five  or  ten  years  they  get  a  new  fashion  of  treating  dis- 
eases and  call  it  science.'^ 

They  turned  south  and  soon  came  to  a  humble  house, 
where  Seti  knocked.  The  door  was  opened  by  a  shiftless 
looking  Greek  who,  on  request,  pointed  to  a  door  within 
which  the  sick  woman  could  be  found.  On  entering, 
they  found  her  on  a  rude  bed,  supported  almost  in  a  sit- 
ting posture  by  the  daughter  of  Alexander,  who  sat  behind 
her.  She  was  a  woman  of  middle  age,  very  emaciated, 
eyes  closed,  lips  parted,  chest  laboriously  heaving,  appar- 
ently unconscious. 

"Oh,  grandfather,  I  feared  you  would  not  come," 
exclaimed  the  maiden  in  a  subdued  voice,  ''  feared  you 
would  be  too  late, — I  am  afraid  you  are  too  late.     The 


THE   BAKKEE.  51 

leech   says   that  nothing  more  can  be  done''— and  the 
tears  dropped  fast  from  the  lovely  eyes. 

The  rich  dress  worn  at  home  had  been  exchanged  for 
one  exceedingly  plain  and  suited  to  her  present  sad  and 
humble  surroundings.  But  the  change  did  not  detract 
from  her  superb  loveliness.  On  the  contrary,  the  ex- 
quisite graces  of  feature  and  figure  became  all  the  more 
apparent  in  the  absence  of  the  distractions  of  extrinsic 
ornament ;  and  a  new  light  born  of  a  heavenly  pity  and- 
self-forgetfulness  was  shining  in  her  face. 

Without  replying  to  her  words,  Seti  advanced  to  a 
casement  and  door,  and  threw  them  widely  open  on  a 
small  open  court. 

*^But  the  leech,  grandfather,  said  that  the  fresh  air 

must  be  excluded.'' 

''  Did  he  bring  this  ?"  said  the  Egyptian,  taking  up 
from  the  bed  a  partly  unrolled  manuscript.  He  read 
aloud  :  "  The  Psalms  of  David  tra^islated  lij  the  Sev- 
enty" 

^^That  is  mine,"  said  Rachel.     "I  brought  it  with 
me,  and  have  read  from  it  to  Miriam  while  she  could 
listen.     It  was  her  only  comfort,  besides  prayer." 
"  What  have  you  learned  about  her  case  ?  " 
"You  know  that  she  left  us  two  years  ago  to  marry  a 
man  whom  we  could  not  approve  :  and  until  yesterday  we 
did  not  know  what  had  become  of  her.     Then  I  had  a 
message  from  her  husband,  who  is  a  Greek,  that  she  was 
sick  at  this  place.     I  went  to  her  at  once  and  found  her 
very  weak  and  low  with  this  fever  ;   and  gathered  from 
her  with  great  difficulty  that  she  had  led  a  life  of  hard- 
ship and  exposure  since  leaving  us,  had  sometimes  been 
in  the  extreme  of  want,  but  was  ashamed  to  make  her 


52  THE  BANKER. 

situation  known  to  us  after  having  rejected  our  counsel. 
So  she  had  gradually  been  worn  down  by  want  and  dis- 
appointment until  this  fever  seized  on  her  and  found  an 
easy  victim '' — and  the  fair  head  drooped  with  a  sigh  to 
the  hot  forehead  that  rested  against  her  shoulder. 

''Has  she  asked  for  nothing  ?"  inquired  Seti. 

''  Not  of  late.  When  I  first  came  she  wanted  water, 
and  asked  for  it  almost  constantly.  But  the  leech  said 
she  must  not  have  it.  It  would  chill  her  and  finally  make 
the  fever  worse.  He  would  only  allow  her  lips  to  be 
moistened  occasionally  with  a  sponge." 

''Her  lips  are  trying  to  move  now.  Can  you  hear 
anything  ?  " 

"Nothing.'' 

Seti  stooped  and  put  his  ear  close  to  the  lips  of  the 
dying  woman.     He  shook  his  head. 

"Old  age/'  said  he,  "has  its  disadvantages,  and  dull 
ears  are  one  of  them.  Perhaps  my  young  friend  here  can 
help  us  " — and  he  beckoned  to  Aleph,  who  had  remained 
at  some  distance. 

The  young  man  at  once  came  forward,  and,  kneeling 
by  the  bed,  laid  his  ear  close  to  the  twitching  lips.  For 
a  few  moments  he  seemed  not  to  breathe  at  all.  As  Seti 
looked  down  on  that  noble  head  with  its  wealth  of  youth 
and  strength  in  broad  contrast  with  the  sharp,  worn  feat- 
ures of  the  sick  woman,  he  said  to  himself  :  "It  is  the 
head  of  Horus,  the  sun-god." 

At  length  Aleph  rose.  "  She  says  water,  water — that 
and  nothing  else." 

"Give  her  water,  then,"  commanded  Seti. 

"  But  the  leech,  grandfather  ! "  interposed  the  maiden 
anxiously. 


THE  BANKER.  53 

"  No  matter  what  the  leech  says.  I  too  am  a  leech. 
Let  her  drink  freely." 

Aleph  took  up  the  water-jar  that  was  standing  by  the 
bed,  poured  into  a  large  cup  that  was  near  till  it  was 
almost  full,  and  held  it  to  the  lips  of  the  woman — saying 
to  Rachel  as  he  did  so  :  ''  It  is  the  way  of  my  country.'' 
The  dry  lips  closed  spasmodically  over  the  rim  of  the  cup, 
and  did  not  release  it  till  not  a  drop  was  left.  She  opened 
her  eyes.     A  faint  sigh  of  relief  reached  the  younger  ears. 

"  Give  her  another  cup,''  said  Seti. 

She  drained  that  also  :  then  whispered  Heaven — so 
that  they  all  heard,  and  almost  a  smile  hovered  upon  her 
wan  features.  Great  drops  stood  on  her  forehead,  and 
she  quietly  sank  into  sleep. 

"Now  lay  her  down  softly,"  said  the  Egyptian  to  the 
maiden,  "and  let  her  sleep.  She  will  do  well.  What 
has  she  eaten  ?  " 

"Nothing  since  I  have  been  here.  The  leech  said 
that  food  would  not  nourish  her  :  it  would  only  nourish 
the  fever." 

"Has  she  never  asked  for  anything  in  particular  ?" 

"  The  woman  who  was  here  when  I  came  tells  me  that 
before  nurse  became  so  weak  she  asked  for  fried  lampreys 
and  onions.  But  the  leech  said  that  she  could  not  ask 
for  a  worse  dish.  It  would  kill  her  outright.  And,  what 
was  worse,  it  would  kill  him  too;  for  it  would  ruin 
his  practice  to  allow  such  a  thing.  It  was  against  all 
rules." 

"  Never  you  mind  his  rules.  Tell  the  woman — but 
here  she  is  ;  I  will  tell  her  myself,"  and  he  turned  toward 
a  peasant  woman,  who  had  just  softly  entered  and  was 
standing  embarrassed  at  the  presence  of  strangers.    "When 


54  THE   BANKER. 

this  sick  person  wakes  let  her  drink  all  the  water  she 
wants.  Then  ask  her  if  she  can  think  of  anything  she 
would  like  to  eat,  calling  over  to  her  all  the  eatables  you 
can  think  of,  and  whatever  she  chooses  get  for  her,  even 
though  it  is  fried  lampreys  or  fried  dragons.  Do  you 
understand  ?  " 

"Yes,  my  lord  ;  but  the  leech  ..." 

"  Will  see  that  these  instructions  of  Seti  are  obeyed. 
If  not,  send  word  at  once  to  this  lady.  .  .  .  Now,  Rachel, 
you  ought  to  go  home  at  once.  Though  you  are  not  un- 
accustomed to  such  work  as  this,  I  can  see  that  you  are 
tired  and  worn.  If  you  were  of  the  fainting  sort  I  should 
hold  out  my  arms  to  catch  you  from  falling — your  cheeks 
are  so  white  and  your  eyes  so '' 

She  would  have  fallen  had  she  not  hastily  staggered 
toward  him  and  caught  his  arm. 

''Yes,  grandfather,  I  think  I  had  better  go  home  as 
soon  as  possible,"  she  said  in  a  low  and  trembling  voice. 
"The  closeness  of  the  room  till  you  came,  together  with 
the  anxiety  and  excitement,  has  been  too  much  for  me. 
But  the  open  air  will  set  me  right." 

"  Ought  not  the  lady  to  have  a  sedan  ?  "  inquired 
Aleph.     "  I  saw  a  stand  at  the  last  corner  as  we  came." 

"Certainly,"  said  Seti:  "and  where  are  the  two 
servants,  Rachel,  who  came  with  you  ?  " 

"  Are  they  not  at  the  door?  I  left  them  there,  to  be 
within  call." 

"  I  did  not  notice  them  when  we  came.  Did  you  ?  "  — 
turning  to  Aleph. 

Aleph  shook  his  head.  "  Allow  me  to  go  for  a  sedan," 
said  he,  "and  we  will  see  the  lady  safely  home." 

"  Thank  you— that  will  do." 


THE   BANKER.  55 

Aleph  hastened  away.  During  his  absence,  which  was 
short,  Rachel  reclined  ;  and  on  his  return  with  a  chair 
and  two  stout  porters  he  found  her  much  revived  and 
quite  disposed  to  dismiss  the  vehicle  as  being  unnecessary. 
But  this  Seti  would  not  permit.  And  she  speedily  found 
that  he  was  right ;  for,  on  trying  to  walk  to  the  door,  she 
found  it  necessary  to  accept  support  from  both  men.  But 
the  open  air  of  the  street  seemed  to  recall  her  strength  at 
once,  and  she  entered  the  sedan  without  help. 

Seti  walked  before  the  vehicle  to  guide.  Aleph  walked 
behind — every  now  and  then  quieting  the  motion  of  the 
bearers  by  a  word,  and  once  or  twice  venturing  to  draw 
aside  the  curtain  and  inquire  in  a  grave,  sympathetic  way 
how  the  lady  was  enduring  the  Jolting.  The  answer  was 
satisfactory  and  cordial :  and  when  the  house  of  Alexander 
was  reached  she  professed  to  feel  as  well  and  strong  as 
ever,  and  proved  it  by  darting  up  the  steps  without  aid. 
Turning,  as  the  door  opened,  she  threw  down  thanks  and 
adieu  with  the  gesture  of  a  goddess  and  disappeared. 

''  There  goes  the  Gem  of  xilexandria,^'  murmured  Seti 
to  himself. 

Aleph  said  nothing,  but  he  thought  that,  Avhatever  the 
gem,  it  was  a  wonderfully  fine  casket  that  contained  it. 
He  was  sure  that  he  had  never  seen  a  finer.  And  those 
eyes  !  As  he  turned  away  the  twin  stars  again  ventured 
to  show  themselves  above  his  horizon  in  all  their  dewy 
splendors.  But  what  had  he  to  do  with  a  maiden's  starry 
eyes  ?  Just  nothing  at  all.  So  back  they  timidly  sank 
to  the  horizon's  edge  ;  but  refused  to  go  farther.  They 
must  wait  till  they  had  burned  a  path  through. 

That  evening  at  the  khan  Cimon  and  Aleph  compared 
experiences.     Cimon  had  revived  his  acquaintance  with 


56  THE   BAN^KER. 

the  city,  but  had  not  found  any  of  his  old  acquaintances. 
Thirty  years  and  more  had  dismissed  all  of  them  to  new 
homes  or  to  the  Necropolis.  No  directory  made  it  possi- 
ble for  him  to  be  sure  but  that,  somewhere  in  the  great 
city,  some  one  whom  he  had  known  as  a  young  man  was 
still  living  with  whitening  locks ;  but  no  doubt  nearly  all 
of  his  generation  were  dead.  That  was  the  way  of  things 
in  Alexandria  :  as  it  is  everywhere  else.  Cimon  was  sad 
that  night.  0  Time,  thou  mighty  thief,  when  will  Gov- 
ernment apprehend  thee  and  bring  thee  to  justice  !  Or, 
better  still,  when  will  it  take  thy  scythe  from  thee,  and 
put  thee  into  some  Reformatory  to  learn  giving  instead  of 
stealing,  addition  instead  of  subtraction,  flowing  instead 
of  ebbing,  the  art  of  ever  setting  poor  men  forward  from 
strength  to  strength  instead  of  backward  from  weakness 
to  weakness  !  Well,  that  is  what  will  be  done  some  day — 
for  some.     For  whom  ? 


IV. 
THE    SYNAGOGUE. 

Kdl  dplarovc  6e  kuI  deo^LTiEardrovq . 

— Xenophon,  Memorab.  iii,  9. 

Thai  the  best  men  are  most  observant  of  Divine  worship. 


1.  Is  it  a  recognition? 

2.  Diapleuston  the  magnificent. 

3.  Has  thie  Nlessialn  come? 

4.  F*roc\al  este  profani. 


I 


IV. 


THE    SYNAGOGUE. 

F  the  reader  is  curious  to  know  how  the  two  friends 
passed  the  long  Sabbath  morning,  before  it  was  time 
to  go  to  the  synagogue,  I  can  inform  him.  They  prayed 
apart,  they  prayed  together  ;  they  produced  a  copy  of  the 
Septuagint  and  read  what  the  prophets  had  written  about 
the  Messiah.  They  found  many  mysteries,  and  much 
material  for  conversation,  until  the  dial  in  the  centre  of 
the  court  told  them  that  it  was  time  to  be  moving. 

On  their  way  up  Emporium  Street  they  kept  to  the 
right  side  for  two  reasons— because  the  right  was  first 
reached,  and  because  on  that  side  the  current  of  people 
was  in  their  own  direction.     And  a  strong  current  it  was. 
Men,  women,  and  children,  with  Jewish  faces  and  appar- 
ently dressed  in  their  best,  in  great  numbers  were  leisurely 
moving  northward.    Aleph  was  tall  enough  to  look  over 
the  heads  of  most  of  the  people  before  him  and  noticed  in 
the  distance  the  living  stream  turning  into  a  building.    It 
occurred  to  him  that  this  building  was  probably  the  syna- 
gogue of  Malus,  of  which  the  Alabarch  had  spoken.     He 
was  confirmed  in  this  idea  by  the  light  behavior  of  most 
about  him.     The  principle  of  reverence  was  neither  in 
their  feet  nor  in  their  faces.     And  as  to  their  tongues— 
these  seemed  to  have  the  freedom  of  all  the  days  of  the 


60  THE   SYNAGOGUE. 

week.  They  were  talking  slio]!,  talking  ships,  talking 
fashions,  talking  gossip — talking  everything  but  politics 
and  religion.  These  last  topics  they  prudently  left  to  the 
Romans  and  '^  whom  it  might  concern." 

When  they  came  to  the  synagogue  they  saw  that  it 
was  large  ;  though  by  no  means  as  large  and  imposing  as 
the  Diapleuston.  They  lingered  a  little  among  the  many 
standing  on  the  street  in  order  to  get  a  better  view.  Just 
then  came  up  a  group  of  persons  more  richly  dressed  than 
the  rest,  and  for  whom  the  rest  made  way  with  special 
deference  as  they  mounted  the  steps.  One  of  these,  whose 
dress  was  particularly  showy,  turned  when  he  had  reached 
the  last  platform,  and  looked  down  among  the  people  as 
if  seeking  some  one.  His  eye  rested  on  Aleph.  Both 
Cimon  and  Aleph  noticed  an  involuntary  start.  It  could 
hardly  have  been  greater  if  the  man  had  received  an  un- 
expected blow. 

He  was  a  man  of  middle  stature,  somewhat  past  mid- 
dle life,  and  more  than  middlingly  obese.  His  face  was 
a  curiosity.  It  was  as  round  as  a  full  nfoon,  and  as 
pocked  :  but  the  great  peculiarity  of  it  was  its  character- 
less or  wooden  expression.  It  neither  laughed  nor  cried, 
it  neither  promised  nor  threatened,  it  was  neither  happy 
nor  miserable,  it  was  neither  saint  nor  sinner.  Yet  one 
hesitates  a  little  over  this  last  statement.  There  was  a 
certain  thin,  very  thin,  something  about  the  face  that 
asked  to  be  considered  religious.  But  to  the  eyes  of  our 
friends  it  seemed  sanctimoniousness  instead  of  sanctity,  a 
gauze  white  veil  which,  however  well  worn,  is  no  part  of 
the  person  and  can  be  put  oif  at  pleasure.  Perhaps  they 
were  mistaken.  Sudden  judgments  sometimes  shoot  wide 
of  the  mark.     And  it  was  but  a  moment  they  had  in 


THE   SYNAGOGUE.  61 

which  to  study  his  face  before  he  disappeared  within  the 

synagogue. 

Oimon  turned  to  a  by-stander,  and  asked  :  "  The 
ruler  of  the  synagogue  ?"     The  man  bowed  assent. 

''  I  wonder/'  said  Cimon,  musingly,  as  they  passed 
on,  "whether  Malus  recognized  your  father  in  you.  You 
resemble  him  strongly— as  he  was,  thirty  years  ago." 

As  they  came  up  to  the  Diapleuston  there  burst  from 
the  summit  of  the  side  tower  a  chorus  of  trumpets — rich, 
soft,  yet  far-sounding.  Looking  up  they  saw  seventy 
men  standing  behind  a  circular  balustrade  and  chanting 
through  silver  trumpets  toward  all  points  of  the  compass. 

"How  amiable  are  thy  tabernacles,  0  Lord  of  Hosts," 
went  sounding  broadly  forth  over  the  city. 

They  were  met  just  within  the  doors  by  Alexander 
himself — to  whom  Aleph  presented  his  "preceptor  and 
friend  "  Cimon.  The  Alabarch  received  them  with  great 
courtesy,  and  thanked  the  young  man  for  the  service  ren- 
dered to  his  daughter  the  day  before  ;  and  when  Aleph 
expressed  the  hope  that  she  had  quite  recovered  from  her 
indisposition,  he  said  : 

"  Quite  so,  she  tells  me ;  and  so  I  have  brought  her 
with  me  to  give  thanks  for  the  good  news  this  morning 
received  that  her  nurse  continues  to  mend." 

And  he  led  the  way  toward  a  distant  canopy  not  far 
from  the  centre,  near  which  his  daughter  was  sitting. 
She  was  simply  dressed  and  closely  veiled  ;  but  Aleph 
had  no  difficulty  in  recognizing  the  exquisite  shape  and 
bearing  of  the  Gem  of  Alexandria. 

Alexander  then  said  that  he  had  asked  them  to  come 
somewhat  in  advance  of  the  congregation,  partly  in  order 
that  they  might  have  time  to  look  about  them,  and  to  get 


G2  THE   SYNAGOGUE. 

familiar  with  the    buikling   before   the   services  should 
begin. 

''  Walk  about  freely/'  he  continued,  ''  until  the  trum- 
pets cease  summoning  ;  then  return  and  occupy  the  seats 
yonder  (he  pointed).  They  are  reserved  for  visitors  in 
accord  with  us.     Meanwhile  I  have  to  meet  the  elders.'' 

He  bowed  himself  away;    and   they  began   to   look 
about  them.     But  few  people  had  yet  come  in.     It  was 
the  largest  and  finest  synagogue  in  the  world.    Just  before 
them,  abutting  on  the  east  side  of  the  building,  was  a  low 
platform  surrounded  by  a  delicate  silver  railing  and  sur- 
mounted in  part  by  a  canopy  of  cloth  of  gold.     Under 
this   was  an  ornate    seat    curiously  wrought  in  various 
precious  woods.     Near  tlie  front  of  the  platform  stood 
an  equally  elaborate  reading  desk,  with  several  rolls  upon 
it.     By  the  side  of  the  platform  was  a  door  by  which 
Alexander  had  disappeared  ;  and  in  front  of  the  platform, 
arranged  in  several  semicircles,  were  the  famous  seventy 
gilded  chairs  for  the  seventy  elders  of  the  synagogue. 
Back  of  these  were  the  seats  for  the  families  of  the  elders 
with  a  narrow  aisle  separating  the  males  from  the  females. 
On  the  first  seat  to  the  left  of  this  passage  sat  Eachel. 
Behind  these  seats,  and  skirted  by  immense  columns  on 
either  hand,   ran  a  broad  aisle  from  end  to  end  of  the 
synagogue.     The  building  was  so  long  that  the  signal  for 
the  responses  had  to  be  given  by  a  flag  to  the  more  remote 
worshippers  ;  for  all  Avere  expected  to  join  vocally  in  the 
prayers  as  read  at  the  centre,  though  addresses  to  the 
people  were  made  simultaneously  at  several  other  plat- 
forms placed  at  convenient  intervals.      The  walls  were 
covered  with  Scripture  verses  in  both  Hebrew  and  Greek, 
beautifuUv  done  in  mosaic— one  wall  with  prayers,  an- 


THE   SYNAGOGUE.  63 

other  with  praises,  a  third  with  the  Ten  Commandments, 
a  fourth  with  the  leading  Messianic  prophecies.  One 
mystery  of  the  building  was  the  pleasant  illumination 
without  any  sign  of  windows  or  sources  of  artificial  light. 

While  they  were  lingering  over  the  Messianic  inscrip- 
tions they  suddenly  awoke  to  the  fact  that  the  synagogue 
was  becoming  thronged  and  that  the  summoning  trumpets 
were  about  concluding  their  sonorous  chant.  So  they 
made  their  way  back,  as  rapidly  as  the  incoming  stream  of 
belated  worshippers  (not  wholly  unknown  in  any  age) 
would  allow,  to  the  seats  which  had  been  shown  them. 

Amen,  sang  the  trumpets  in  long-drawn  note  from 
their  tower.  Amen,  answered  the  packed  multitudes  on 
their  knees.  The  door  at  the  side  of  the  platform 
opened ;  and  the  seventy  elders,  with  Alexander  and 
another  younger  man,  who  strongly  resembled  him,  at 
their  head,  entered  in  long  flowing  robes  elaborately 
fringed  and  decorated  on  the  breast  with  phylacteries 
lettered  in  gold.  The  leaders  ascended  the  platform  : 
the  others  passed  on  to  the  gilded  chairs.  The  Alabarch 
seated  himself  under  the  canopy  :  his  companion  advanced 
to  the  lecturn,  bowed  his  head  upon  it  for  a  moment,  then 
placed  the  Mith  on  his  head — and  at  once  the  service 
began. 

Began  with  a  doxology  —  spontaneous,  universal, 
mighty  ;  flooding  the  whole  temple  with  rhythmic  billows 
of  uplifting  sound.  As  the  last  note  died  away,  the  man 
at  the  desk  began  to  read  from  a  roll  that  vivid  picture  of 
the  consequences  to  Israel  of  both  obedience  and  disobe- 
dience contained  in  Deut.  28th— read  them  sonorously 
and  with  great  distinctness,  but  not  without  something  of 
the  artificial  and  professional  in  his  tone — read  them  with 


64  THE   SYNAGOGUE. 

here  and  there  a  word  of  comment  which  did  not  always 
content  itself  with  the  literal  sense  instead  of  an  allegor- 
ical and  mystical  one.  This  reading  concluded,  he  waved 
a  small  flag  ;  and  all  the  people  broke  out  again  into  a 
doxology — this  time  the  entire  psalm,  beginning  with, 
'^  Praise  ye  the  Lord  ;  praise  the  Lord,  0  my  soul ;  while 
I  live  will  I  praise  the  Lord,"  in  a  rapid  and  triumphant 
march  of  unified  sound.  He  then  proceeded  to  read  on 
his  knees,  the  people  all  kneeling,  the  prayer  contained 
in  the  psalm  that  begins  with  "  Give  ear,  0  shepherd  of 
Israel,  thou  that  leadest  Joseph  like  a  flock,  thou  that 
dwellest  between  the  cherubims  shine  forth  ; ''  at  the  con- 
clusion of  which  he  waved  the  flag  again  and  a  universal 
Amen  arose.  This  was  followed  by  readings  from  the 
prophets  of  selections  commonly  understood  to  point  to 
the  Messiah.  Again  the  flag  waved,  and  the  people  ex- 
claimed as  with  one  voice,  but  in  a  plaintive  tone  : 
^^  Though  he  tarry  long  he  will  surely  come." 
The  reader  then  became  a  preacher.  His  theme  was 
the  Messiah.  He  spoke  of  the  certainty  of  His  coming, 
of  the  time  and  other  circumstances  of  it,  of  the  character 
and  functions  that  would  belong  to  Him,  of  the  way  in 
which  He  would  prove  Himself,  and  of  the  universal  cur- 
rent expectation  of  Him  among  their  own  people.  He 
showed  that  from  the  beginning  of  the  race  hints  of  Him 
had  been  given — hints  that  gradually  enlarged  and  bright- 
ened as  the  ages  rolled  on,  until,  in  the  later  prophets,  all 
veils  were  removed  and  the  dimmest  eye  could  see  the 
King  that  cometh  in  the  name  of  the  Lord.  As  to  the 
time — he  shared  the  common  belief  of  the  present  and 
tlie  last  generation  that  the  time  was  near,  if  not  already 
arrived.     How  could  the  dates  of  Daniel  be  reconciled 


THE   SYNAGOGUE.  65 

with  any  other  view  ?  To  be  sure,  some  allowance  should 
be  made  for  round  numbers  :  it  would  not  do  to  say  that 
this  or  the  next  year  is  the  time  for  the  Coming ;  but 
after  all  it  is  safe  to  say  in  a  general  way  that  we  are  liv- 
ing in  the  times  of  the  Christ.  It  ought  not  to  surprise 
them  if  He  should  come  to-morrow.  As  to  the  family 
from  which  He  is  to  spring,  the  place  of  His  birth,  the 
forerunner  Ellas  He  is  to  have,  there  is  and  can  be  but 
one  opinion.  Exactly  how  He  will  prove  himself  to  the 
people  it  were  hard  to  say  :  perhaps  by  a  supernatural 
beauty  and  glory  of  person,  perhaps  by  a  mysterious  in- 
ward voice  speaking  to  the  whole  nation  as  it  spoke  to 
individual  prophets,  perhaj^s  only  by  His  wonderful  suc- 
cess over  all  obstacles  in  becoming  our  Eedeemer  and 
King. 

The  preacher  evidently  did  not  deem  it  wise  to  be  at 
all  specific  on  this  last  point — the  conquering  and  kingly 
character  of  the  Messiah — in  a  city  held  by  the  Eomans 
for  the  Caesars.  He  contented  himself  with  glittering 
generalities.  He  spoke  ornately  and  enthusiastically  of 
the  prosperity  and  felicity  of  Israel  in  the  golden  age  that 
was  sure  to  come.  What  the  Gentiles  call  by  that  name 
was  a  poor  thing  compared  with  that  which  was  knocking 
at  the  doors  of  the  Chosen  People. 

He,  however,  cautioned  his  hearers  not  to  allow  them- 
selves to  be  impatient  in  their  waiting  for  this  good  time. 
Their  faith  might  be  tried.  They  must  be  on  their  guard 
against  pretenders.  It  would  not  be  strange  if  the  cur- 
rent expectation  should  itself  produce  false  Christs.  It 
would  seem  indeed  as  if  this  had  already  happened.  At 
this  moment,  as  most  of  them  knew,  there  was  a  man  in 
Judea  who  was  making  much  noise  with  his  claims,  but 


66  THE   SYNAGOGUE. 

whom  the  principal  men  of  the  nation  did  not  feel  able  to 
accept.  When  the  true  Messiah  comes  he  doubtless  will 
commend  Himself  to  the  natural  leaders  of  the  people. 
Meanwhile  the  people 'should  rest  quietly  in  their  various 
places  and  occupations. 

When  the  orator  had  finished,  the  Alabarch  rose  and 
gave  the  usual  invitation  to  approved  persons  to  speak — 
immediately  adding,  however,  that  he  saw  that  one  of 
their  own  elders,  Simeon  the  son  of  Simeon,  had  returned 
from  Jerusalem,  and  that  whatever  account  he  could  give 
of  religious  matters  there  would  be  acceptable. 

A  venerable  looking  man  rose  from  among  the  Sev- 
enty.    He  brought   salutations  from   the  Sanhedrin  at 
Jerusalem.     They  had  been  much  disturbed  over  the  case 
of  Jesus  of  Nazareth  to  whom  the  preacher  had  just  re- 
ferred.    The  multitude  were  disposed  to  listen  to  him  ; 
attributing  to  him  many  signs  and  wonders,  and  asking 
whether  he  is  not  the  Messiah.    It  was  not  clear,  however, 
that  he  himself  had  put  forward  any  such  claim.     His 
Messiahship  seemed  to  be  merely  an  inference  of  the  mul- 
titude from  his  wonderful  works  at  a  time  when  all  are 
on  the  lookout  for  the  Shiloh.    As  to  the  reality  of  these 
wonderful  works,  the  brethren  of  the  Great  Council  and 
the  principal  men  generally  do  not  seem  to  call  it  in 
question.     They  concede  that  Jesus  has,  with  a  word  or  a 
touch,  cured  all  sorts  of  incurable  diseases ;  given  sight 
to  the  blind,  hearing  to  the  deaf,  wholeness  to  the  maimed, 
reason  to  the  insane,  and  even  life  to  the  dead.     Two  of 
them,  Joseph  of  Arimathea,  and  Nicodemus,  a  cousin  of 
the  great  teacher  Gamaliel,  go  further  than  this,  and  af- 
firm that  no  man  could  do  such  mighty  works  unless  God 
were  with  him,    "  If  such  deeds  could  not  prove  a  Divine 


THE   SYNAGOGUE.  67 

mission,  they  were  at  a  loss  to  see  how  such  a  mission 
could  ever  be  proved.  How  was  Moses  authenticated  ?  " 
But  the  rest  agree  in  ascribing  the  marvels  to  magic  and 
evil  spirits ;  especially  as  there  never  has  been  known  a 
time  when  so  many  people  seemed  possessed  with  demons. 
They  say  that  they  are  compelled  to  resort  to  this  expla- 
nation, not  merely  by  the  fact  that  Jesus  speaks  so  unfa- 
vorably of  the  ecclesiastical  authorities  and  of  their  oral 
traditions,  but  still  more  by  the  fact  that  he  does  not 
answer  in  origin,  appearance,  or  aims  to  the  Messiah. 
The  Messiah  comes  from  Bethlehem,  Jesus  from  Naza- 
reth :  the  Messiah  comes  from  the  royal  family  of  David, 
Jesus  from  a  peasant  family  of  no  property  or  social 
standing  ;  the  Messiah  is  a  mighty  King  and  Deliverer, 
Jesus  is  plain  in  his  appearance,  associates  even  with 
publicans  and  sinners,  and  has  nothing  of  the  warrior 
and  statesman  about  him — in  fact,  says  that  his  kingdom 
is  not  of  this  world.  He  has  even  been  understood  to 
give  out  that  his  mission  here  is  to  teach  and  suffer  rather 
than  to  conquer  and  reign.  Such  a  person  differs  so 
widely  from  what  they  have  been  accustomed  to  expect 
and  from  what  the  Sacred  Books  have  been  supposed  to 
promise,  that  the  leading  brethren  in  Judea,  with  the 
exceptions  mentioned,  are  unanimous  in  ascribing  the 
miracles  of  Jesus  to  the  Evil  One,  and  in  trying  to  break 
his  influence  with  the  people.  Whether  they  will  succeed 
seems  doubtful.  But  their  determination  to  do  so  is  very 
strong  and  will  probably  lead  to  severe  measures.  He  was 
sorry  not  to  be  able  to  judge  of  the  man  from  personal 
observation ;  but  Jesus  at  the  time  was  in  Galilee,  and 
could  not  be  reached  in  the  time  at  command.  Besides, 
it  was  evident  that  a  visit  of  Simeon  to  Jesus  would  be 


68  THE   SYNAGOGUE. 

looked  upon  as  a  discourtesy  by  tlie  chief  men — so  decided 
have  their  views  become,  and  so  high  runs  the  tide  of 
feeling. 

Such  in  a  few  words  was  the  purport  of  what  Simeon 
said  in  more. 

The  reading  of  the  psalm  beginning,  '^  Give  the  king 
thy  judgments  0  God,  and  thy  righteousness  to  the  king's 
son  ; ''  the  waving  of  the  flag  ;  Amen  and  Amen  by  the 
people,  as  with  one  voice,  concluded  the  service. 

The  congregation  rapidly  disappeared  through  the 
many  doors  that  suddenly  revealed  themselves  ;  for  the 
architect  had  thought  it  possible  that  occasion  might  arise 
for  a  hasty  evacuation  of  the  premises — had  also  thought 
it  possible  to  have  the  means  of  egress  as  unnoticeable  by 
a  stranger  as  were  the  means  of  light.  But  a  few  of  the 
elders,  among  whom  were  Alexander  and  the  preacher, 
gathered  about  Simeon,  whose  chair  stood  near  the 
daughter  of  Alexander.  Cimon  and  Aleph  had  also  lin- 
gered ;  it  may  be  with  the  idea  of  making  some  inquiry 
of  Simeon  or  the  preacher.  Seeing  this,  the  Alabarch 
beckoned  them  near,  and,  simply  introducing  them  as 
co-religionists,  proceeded  to  say  to  Simeon  : 

"  I  am  sorry  that  you  were  not  able  to  see  and  hear 
Jesus  for  yourself.'' 

"  My  desire  was  strong  to  do  so  :  and  I  did  my  best  to 
get  as  near  as  possible  to  personal  observation.  I  sought 
reliable  information  from  all  quarters.  There  seemed  to 
be  no  difference  of  opinion,  even  among  his  greatest  ene- 
mies, as  to  the  reality  of  his  miracles."  ^ 

''What  do  you  understand,"  inquired  another  elder, 
"  to  be  the  general  character  of  his  teaching  ?  How  does 
he  treat  our  Sacred  Writings  ?  " 


THE   SYNAGOGUE.  69 

"With  the  highest  honor.  It  is  agreed  on  all  hands 
that  no  word  has  fallen  from  him  that  savors  of  irrever- 
ence toward  the  Law  and  the  Prophets  :  on  the  contrary, 
he  makes  them  final  authorities  on  all  matters  of  which 
they  speak  ;  and  when  he  rebukes  the  leaders  of  the  peo- 
ple it  is  in  their  name.  He  does  not  belong  to  the  syna- 
gogue of  Malus.^' 

"That  is  a  great  point  in  his  favor,"  said  another. 
"But  are  his  own  manners  and  morals  blameless  in  the 
view  of  the  Law  ?  " 

"  T  must  confess  that  I  heard  nothing  to  the  con- 
trary— not  being  able  myself  to  see  wrong  in  a  religious 
teacher  eating  and  drinking  like  other  people,  or  in  his 
being  accessible  to  the  lowly  and  sinful." 

"  Have  not  I  heard  you  say,  brother  Philo,"  said 
Alexander  to  the  preacher, '"  that  the  chiefs  of  the  peo- 
ple charge  Jesus  with  blasphemy  ?  Blasphemy  can  hardly 
be  considered  a  point  of  good  behavior." 

"  I  spake  as  I  heard,"  said  Philo.  "  Perhaps  Simeon 
can  tell  us  whether  I  heard  correctly." 

"It  seems,"  said  Simeon,  "  that  Jesus  has  sometimes 
spoken  of  himself  as  the  Son  of  God  ;  and,  in  a  mysterious 
way,  of  a  certain  unity  between  himself  and  his  heavenly 
Father  ;  and,  probably,  it  is  this  lofty  way  of  speaking  of 
himself  which  has  given  occasion  for  the  charge  of  which 
you  speak." 

"  Do  not  the  prophets  sometimes  use  language  equally 
strong  about  the  Christ  ?  "  asked  Cimon  deferentially. 

"For  example,"  said  Aleph  :  "His  name  shall  be 
called  Wonderful,  counsellor,  the  mighty  God,  the  ever- 
lasting Father." 

"  Such  passages,  I  believe,  have  always  been  under- 


70  THE   SYNAGOGUE. 

stood  by  many  among  us  as  declaring  that  the  Christ  will 
not  be  a  mere  man,  but  will  have  something  of  a  Divine 
quality  about  him,"  said  Alexander  reflectively. 

"Perhaps,  then,'' added  Cimon,  "it  is  not  so  much 
the  magnificence  of  the  claims  of  Jesus  that  has  led  the 
fathers  at  Jerusalem  to  view  him  as  a  blasphemer,  but 
rather  the  striking  contrast  between  such  claims  and  the 
humble  appearance  and  circumstances  of  him  who  makes 
them,  and  which  have  already  led  them  to  decide  against 
him.  Of  course,  if  he  is  not  the  Christ,  such  lofty  pre- 
tensions are  blasphemous— not  otherwise." 

"But  it  appears  to  me,"  said  another  elder,  Ben 
Abner,  whose  dress  was  specially  sliowy,  phylacteries 
specially  many,  and  air  specially  haughty,  "that  the 
humble  condition  of  the  man  is  itself  decisive  against 
him.  Our  wise  men,  for  generations,  have  understood 
from  the  Scriptures  that  the  Messiah  would  appear  in 
great  splendor  as  a  conqueror  and  king.  For  my  part  I 
expect  no  other  Messiah,  want  no  other,  will  have  no 
other.  I  hope  they  of  Jerusalem  will  away  with  the  im- 
postor."    He  spoke  with  flashing  eyes. 

"So  /think,"  said  half  a  dozen  voices  with  emphasis 
and  gesture. 

"Possibly  the  friends  of  Jesus  would  say,"  returned 
Simeon  coolly,  "  that  great  endings  sometimes  have  small 
beginnings,  and  that  there  is  time  enough  yet  for  the  out- 
ward splendor.  Indeed,  I  happen  to  know  that  this  is 
what  some  of  his  friends  do  say.  But  others  claim,  and 
I  must  confess  that  this  is  what  Jesus  himself  seems  to 
teach,  that  the  prophets  have  been  misunderstood  ;  that 
the  kingdom  and  the  glory  and  the  conquests  of  which 
they  speak  are  spiritual  and  so  perfectly  consistent  with  a 


THE   SYNAGOGUE.  71 

lowly  and  even  suffering  Messiah.  And  for  evidence  they 
appeal  to  the  prophecies  of  Isaiah,  and  other  Scriptures. 
Perhaps  our  friend  Pliilo,  who  believes  so  thoroughly  in 
the  allegoric  and  spiritual  meanings  of  our  Sacred  Books, 
will  not  blame  this  interpretation  as  severely  as  some  do." 

Philo  smiled  at  this,  and  said  that  he  never  intended 
to  spiritualize  aivay  the  Scriptures.  It  would  be  very 
hard  for  him  to  give  up  the  brilliant  hopes  that  had  so 
long  been  entertained  as  to  the  times  of  the  Messiah  and 
what  he  would  do  for  his  Israel. 

^^  I  should  not  have  so  much  difficulty,"  said  Alexan- 
der, "with  the  present  humble  condition  of  Jesus,  and 
the  spiritual  character  of  his  claims,  as  with  the  apparent 
fact  that  he  was  not  born  in  Bethlehem  and  is  not  a  son 
of  David — as  the  Messiah  must  be." 

"That  has  been  my  great  difficulty,"  said  Simeon. 
"  It  is  everywhere  claimed  in  Judea  that  Jesus  is  a  Gali- 
lean, a  Nazarene,  and  of  parentage  so  humble  that  he  is 
on  that  account  in  disfavor  with  even  the  people  of 
Nazareth. " 

Aleph  ventured  to  inquire  whether  some  branches  of 
David's  line  had  not,  in  the  course  of  centuries,  sunk  into 
a  humble  condition  ;  and  whether  it  was  not  possible  that 
Jesus  belonged  to  some  such  decayed  branch  —  also, 
whether  he  might  not  have  been  born  in  Bethlehem, 
though  brought  up  elsewhere  ? 

"  I  think,"  said  Simeon,  "that  we  are  hardly  entitled 
to  say  No  to  either  of  these  questions  of  the  young  man. 
I  myself  was  born  in  Jerusalem,  though  brought  up  in 
this  city.  The  family  of  David  is  now  lost  among  the 
common  people  ;  and,  though  it  can  be  recovered  in  our 
genealogies,  I  never  could  learn  that  the  enemies  of  Jesus 


72  THE   SYNAGOGUE. 

have  taken  the  pains  to  examine  them  with  reference  to 
his  claims.  Having  settled  in  their  minds  that  such  a 
Messiah  as  Jesus  is  neither  what  they  expected  nor  wanted, 
they  easily  accepted  without  examination  such  rumors  in 
regard  to  him  as  agreed  with  their  wishes  and  foregone 
conclusion.     So,  at  least,  it  seems  to  me." 

"  Can  you  tell  us  about  what  the  age  of  Jesus  is  ? '' 

asked  Cimon. 

"  He  appears,  I  am  told,  somewhat  less  than  forty  ; 
perhaps  he  is  not  much  more  than  thirty  years.  I  took 
special  pains  to  inquire  about  this  ;  partly  because  of  an 
experience  of  my  father's  some  thirty  years  ago,  and  partly 
because  of  wide-spread  rumors  at  that  time  of  a  remarka- 
ble birth  which  had  just  taken  place  in  connection  with 
celestial  phenomena.  However,  the  matter  was  kept  as 
close  as  possible  from  fear  of  Herod.  My  father  at  that 
time  was  living  in  Jerusalem— a  very  old  man  and  as 
saintly  as  old.  For  a  long  while  he  had  expressed  to  his 
family  an  assurance  that  he  should  live  to  see  the  Christ. 
One  day  he  came  home  from  the  temple  with  a  radiant  face, 
saying  that  he  was  now  ready  to  depart,  for  he  had  just 
seen  and  held  in  his  arms  an  infant  which  an  inward 
Divine  voice  told  him  was  the  Messiah.  He  then  lay 
down,  calmly  closed  his  eyes,  and  departed  in  a  peaceful 
sleep.  This  I  had  from  my  sister,  for  I  was  in  Alexandria 
at  the  time.  All  this  was  widely  known  at  the  time,  but 
was  spoken  of  by  the  people  under  their  breath  on  account 
of  the  jealousy  and  cruelty  of  the  rulers.  Now  at  that 
time  Jesus  must  have  been  an  infant." 

'^And  we  happen  to  know,"  said  Aleph,  looking  at 
Cimon,  ^^hat  the  name  of  the  infant  concerning  whom 
such  remarkable  things  were  told  was  Jesus— though  we 


THE   SYNAGOGUE.  73 

may  not  at  present  tell  how  we  came  by  the  knowl- 
edge." 

As  Alepli  said  these  words  he  could  not  well  help 
noticing  three  things — the  cordial  look  that  Simeon  gave 
him,  the  look  of  exasperation  on  the  face  of  Ben  Abner, 
and  the  start  made  by  Rachel,  whose  attitude  of  earnest 
attention  throughout  the  conversation  would  have  been 
evident  enough  even  if  her  veil  had  not  been  gradually 
drawn  somewhat  aside  as  she  watched  the  speakers. 
Alexander  also  noticed  the  start.  Perhaps  he  feared  a 
return  of  yesterday's  faintness.  He  bent  over  her,  and 
spoke  in  a  low  tone.     She  shook  her  head. 

"However,  we  will  go  home,"*  said  he,  '^^as  soon  as  I 
have  put  off  these  vestments. '^ 

He  retired  to  the  vestry,  followed  by  the  other  elders. 

Alepli  approached  the  maiden  and  said  that  he  had 
been  glad  to  hear  from  her  father  that  her  nurse  con- 
tinued to  mend,  and  expressed  the  hope  that  she  herself 
was  none  the  worse  for  her  indisposition  of  yesterday. 

"Not  at  all,''  said  she  promptly  ;  "but  I  was  absorb- 
ingly interested  in  the  subject  of  the  conversation,  and 
was,  I  confess,  startled  by  what  you  said  of  your  knowl- 
edge of  the  infant  Jesus.     You  were  not  then  born." 

"No,  lady  ;  my  knowledge  is  altogether  second-hand, 
but  is  none  the  less  certain  for  that.  My  friend  here  has 
some  original  knowledge  in  the  case  ;  but  both  of  us  have, 
in  addition  to  this,  sources  of  information  that  are  be- 
yond all  question." 

"I  very  much  fear,"  said  she  with  a  sigh,  "when  I 
hear  Ben  Abner  and  others,  that  our  people  will  be  found 
treating  a  new  prophet  as  they  have  ever  treated  prophets. 
What  do  you  think?" 


74  THE   SYNAGOGUE. 

^'I  also  have  my  fears/' 

"  But  you  also  have  knowledge  ;  and  if  at  any  time  it 
becomes  consistent  for  you  to  share  your  knowledge  with 
others  none  will  welcome  it  more  gladly  than  I.  Till  then 
I  believe  in  it  and — in  you  " — and  her  eyes,  which  till  then 
had  been  unconsciously  and  half-wonderingly  perusing 
his  face  as  she  spoke,  sank  before  his,  and  the  lovely  color 
deepened  on  the  loveliest  features  that  the  Chaldean,  or 
even  the  more  experienced  Greek,  had  ever  seen. 

What  was  that  ?  A  confused  sound  as  of  struggle  and 
disputing  voices  came  from  the  direction  of  the  great  door 
on  the  street  of  Canopus.  This  was  soon  followed  by  the 
noisy  tramp  on  the  marble  pavement  of  what  seemed  in 
the  distance  a  body  of  soldiers.  As  they  came  nearer 
they  were  seen  to  be  indeed  some  twelve  Roman  soldiers 
in  full  armor,  carrying  at  their  head  a  standard — the  le- 
gionary standard,  consisting  of  a  pike  surmounted  by  a 
silver  eagle,  on  whose  spread  wings  stood  an  effigy  of  the 
emperor,  with  this  superscription  in  large  capitals — Deus 
Tiberius  C^sar. 

The  soldiers  were  followed  at  a  short  distance  by  a 
weeping,  groaning,  threatening  crowd  of  Jews  who  had 
tried,  it  would  seem,  to  prevent  the  entrance  of  the  party 
with  their  desecrating  symbol,  and  were  now  following 
them  with  lamentations  and  execrations. 

As  the  band  came  near,  Aleph  easily  recognized  in  the 
leader  of  it  the  drunken  officer  whom  he  had  disarmed  on 
the  Nile.  Almost  as  soon  the  two  friends  were  recognized 
by  the  Roman  ;  and,  with  an  oath,  he  at  once  led  the  way 
to  where  they  stood  (they  had  planted  themselves  in 
fnmt  of  Rachel),  although  at  that  moment  Alexander  and 
his  elders  were  hastily  coming  forward  from  the  vestry. 


THE   SYNAGOGUE.  75 

*'  I  have  found  you  at  last/'  the  man  cried,  as  he  dis- 
posed his  soldiers  in  a  semicircle,  "  and  you  will  not  easily 
escape  me.'' 

Alexander  had  now  come  up. 
'*  As  the  head  of  the  community  worshipping  here,  I 
demand  to  know  for  what  purpose  you  have  come  into 
their  sanctuary  with  standard  and  arms  ?  " 

"To  give  you  and  your  friends/'  the  officer  replied 
with  mock  solemnity,  "an  opportunity,  which  no  doubt 
you  will  gratefully  accept,  to  pay  an  act  of  religious  wor- 
ship to  the  great  god  Tiberius  Caesar — after  this  manner," 
and  he  kneeled  before  the  standard,  and,  with  both  hands 
lifted,  cried.  Great  God,  I  worship  thee. 

Rising,  he  exclaimed,  "Now  I  have  set  you  an  exam- 
ple— copy  it,  every  one  of  you  ! " 

The  crowd  behind  groaned  and  hissed. 
The  officer  shook  his  fist  at  them  and  shouted,  "  Be 
still,  you  snakes  and  swine  ;  your  turn  will  come  shortly. 
Let  your  betters  lead  off.     It  is  their  privilege.     Come, 
begin,  Pontif ex  Maximus  ! " — turning  to  Alexander. 

"  I  demand  of  you  by  what  authority  you  make  this 
demand  on  us,"  demanded  the  Alabarch. 

The  Roman  pointed  to  the  image  of  the  emperor. 
"Do  you  mean  to  say  that  an  order  has  come  from 
Rome  for  violating  the  sanctuaries  of  the  Jews,  and  revok- 
ing the  edicts  which  from  the  founding  of  the  city  have 
guaranteed  to  us  our  own  religious  views  and  usages  ?" 

"  The  Roman  senate  has  decreed  Divine  honors  to  the 
emperor ;  and  his  image  has  been  received  and  worshipped 
in  every  place  of  worship  in  the  city,  saving  the  syna- 
gogues of  the  Jews.     Now  you  shall  have  your  turn." 

That  is  no  answer  to  my  question.     The  Jews  have 


(( 


76  THE   SYNAGOGUE. 

always  had  special  jirivilcges  in  this  city,  and  one  of  them 
is  to  refuse  worship  to  every  god  but  their  own.  Again  I 
ask,  has  this  privilege  been  recalled  by  the  emperor  since 
yesterday  :  for  yesterday  I  received  a  personal  letter  from 
him  in  which  he  promised  to  abate  nothing  from  our 
privileges." 

The  Roman  made  no  answer,  but  conferred  with  one 
of  his  men  in  a  low  voice.  After  a  moment's  delay,  Alex- 
ander continued  : 

*^It  is  plain  that  you  have  no  authority  from  the  em- 
peror for  this  outrage.  Have  you  for  it  the  authority  of 
the  governor,  or  of  the  prefect  of  the  city  ?  I  await  your 
careful  reply." 

*'  We  are  carrying  out  the  wishes  of  the  representatives 
of  Rome  in  Alexandria,"  said  the  fellow  sullenly. 

^^  And  that  is  no  answer  to  my  question.  Are  we  to 
understand  that  Avilleus  Flaccus,  or  Urbanus  Civicus,  un- 
dertakes on  his  own  responsibility  to  set  aside  the  decrees 
of  kings  and  emperors  for  four  hundred  years,  those  of 
the  reigning  emperor  included,  and  has  expressly  sent 
you  here  to-day  for  this  purpose  ?  " 

'^  We  did  not  come  here,"  said  the  officer  with  a  face 
that  was  fast  becoming  purple,  *^to  be  catechised." 

"You  came  here,''  said  Alexander  sternly,  *^^to  com- 
mit an  outrage — came  as  a  private  venture  of  yourself  and 
a  few  mischievous  companions,  and  without  authority 
from  your  superiors.  You  deserve  heavy  punishment,  and 
I  hope  will  get  it.  Now  hegone  from  the  sanctuary  which 
you  have  profaned." 

''  Begone  !  "  echoed  the  elders.  "  Begoke  ! "  shouted 
and  screamed  the  mob  from  behind. 

**  Whatever  privileges  you  cursed  Jews  may  have,  they 


THE   SYNAGOGUE.  77 

certainly  do  not  belong  to  these  men'^ — pointing  at  Cimon 
and  Aleph.  **  These  are  no  more  Jews  than  I  am.  And 
for  aught  I  know  the  same  is  true  of  this  woman.  We 
will  see  " — and  he  stepped  toward  Rachel  to  lift  her  veil. 

^*  Stand  back/'  said  Aleph  sternly,  as  he  placed  his 
hand  on  the  breast  of  the  man  and  sent  him  staggering 
back  on  his  men. 

Before  the  man  could  recover  himself,  Alexander 
interfered  :  '^  This  lady  is  my  daughter  ;  and  as  for  these 
men,  they  are  of  our  faith,  and  as  co-religionists  are  enti- 
tled to  our  immunities." 

**  And  if  it  were  not  so,"  said  Aleph,  ^'^it  may  be  well 
for  this  man  to  know  that  under  no  conceivable  circum- 
stances would  we  pay  religious  worship  to  the  emperor, 
though  quite  ready  to  pay  the  magistrates  all  due  observ- 
ance." 

''  We  will  see,"  cried  the  Roman  in  a  transport  of  fury, 
as  he  rushed  on  the  young  man  with  his  drawn  sword, 
^'  Down  on  your  knees  to  the  standard  this  instant,  you 
renegade,  or  by  Juj)iter,  I  will  put  you  on  your  knees  for 
the  rest  of  your  life,"  and  he  struck  at  his  knees. 

Aleph  caught  the  blow  with  his  cane.  Whereupon  the 
officer  lost  all  self-restraint  and  made  a  rapid  succession 
of  strokes  and  thrusts  that  sought  life.  But  Aleph  had 
evidently  learned  the  art  of  fence  :  his  cane  was  as  good 
as  a  shield  and  met  the  sword  at  every  point.  At  last, 
after  a  desperate  lunge,  the  sword  went  flying  aloft ;  and 
both  Cimon  and  Aleph  had  seized  its  master. 

^^  Expel  them  !"  shouted  Alexander  to  the  crowd  of 
Jews  that  was  now  surging  and  roaring  like  a  maddened 
sea,  "  Expel  them  with  your  canes  and  your  hands  !  They 
have  forced  an  entrance  into  our  sanctuary,  they  have  pro- 


78  THE   SYNAGOGUE. 

faned  it  with  an  idol,  and  now  they  have  sought  to  stain 
it  with  the  blood  of  unarmed  men.     Expel  them,  I  say  ! 

The  mob  needed  no  spur.  They  threw  themselves  on 
the  soldiers,  already  cowed  by  what  had  i:>assed,  and  in  a 
moment  were  dragging  them,  disarmed  and  unresisting, 
behind  Cimon  and  Alepli  with  their  prisoner.  Had  it 
not  been  for  the  example  of  coolness  and  forbearance  set 
by  our  friends  and  an  occasional  moderating  word  from 
them,  the  people  might  have  torn  their  prisoners  limb  from 
limb.  As  it  was,  the  soldiers  had  no  gentle  handling.  They 
had  little  armor  left  on  them  when  they  reached  the  great 
doors.  They  had  gotten  many  an  accidental  elbowing 
and  tripping.  Somehow  people  had  stumbled  heavily 
and  found  it  hard  to  recover  themselves.  There  were 
few  parts  of  those  Roman  bodies  which  had  not  become 
intimately  acquainted  with  both  the  point  and  broadside 
of  a  cane.  Their  captain  suffered  least — in  fact,  suffered 
nothing  beyond  the  shame  and  uneasiness  of  being  held 
fast  in  iron  hands. 

When  those  hands  were  taken  off,  just  outside  the 
great  door,  he  suddenly  drew  a  knife  from  a  fold  in  his 
sash  and  made  a  pass  at  Aleph.  But  both  friends  Avere 
vigilant ;  and  Cimon,  while  beating  off  the  knife  with  one 
hand,  with  the  other  dealt  the  rascal  such  a  blow  on  the 
head  that  his  helmet  flew  off  and  went  clattering  down 
the  steps  into  the  street.  He  followed  staggering.  The 
people  behind,  seeing  only  the  cuff  and  the  result,  cheered, 
and  very  cheerfully  followed  the  example  supposed  to  be 
set  them.  Each  soldier  received  such  a  hearty  cuff  and 
push  as  he  went  down  the  steps  as  made  his  descent  little 
less  than  a  fall. 

Once  down,  they  were  not  allowed   to  linger.     The 


THE   SYNAGOGUE.  79 

blood  of  tlie  people  was  up  ;  and  they  followed  the  soldiers 
in  their  precipitate  flight  a  long  distance  with  menacing 
cries  and  gestures,  and  with  such  missiles  as  they  happened 
to  find  in  the  street. 

Meanwhile  the  friends  had  been  called  within  the  syn- 
agogue by  Alexander,  and  the  great  doors  fastened.  What 
consultations  took  place  it  i«  not  necessary  to  record. 
There  were  consultations  ;  and  that  too  of  a  very  political 
and  secular  sort.  The  situation  of  the  Jews  was  always 
delicate.  There  was  much  reason  to  fear  that  the  morn- 
ing's disturbance  would  seriously  embroil  them  with  the 
authorities  at  both  Alexandria  and  Rome.  What  should 
be  done  ?  If  any  one  has  light  let  him  speak  out  at  once 
— tlioiigh  it  he  Sabbath. 

But  none  had  scruples.  The  ideas  of  the  Alexandrian 
Jews  of  the  first  century  were  not  exactly  like  those  of 
some  of  their  ancestors  in  the  time  of  the  Maccabees  who 
refused  to  defend  themselves  against  their  enemies  on  the 
Sabbath  because  self-defense  was  work,  and  that  too  of 
the  severest  sort.  The  children  had  become  wiser  if  not 
better.  They  had  come  to  believe  that  self-preservation 
is  a  work  of  necessity,  not  to  say  of  mercy  ;  and  Avere 
ready  to  fight  the  idolaters  seven  days  in  the  week  if  nec- 
essary for  even  a  less  matter  than  self-preservation — as  we 
have  seen.  They  would  not  consent  to  be  martyrs  till 
they  had  tried  hard  to  be  victors.  They  would  not  be 
idolaters,  and  they  did  not  want  to  be  rebels.  They 
wanted  to  preserve  their  religion,  and  also  wanted  to  pre- 
serve themselves.  Was  it  possible  ?  Let  us  see,  said  the 
Seventy,  as  they  resumed  their  gilded  chairs.  So  the  men 
who  did  not  hesitate  to  fight  a  battle  on  the  Sabbath  did 
not  scruple  to  consult  on  that  day  how  to  prevent  the  bat- 


80  THE   SYNAGOGUE. 

tie  from  souring  into  a  defeat.  Were  they  wrong  in 
this  ? 

Cimon  and  Aleph  answered  in  the  negative.  I  am  not 
sure  but  that  I  agree  with  them.  Doubtless  a  council  of 
war  may  be  as  holy  as  a  prayer-meeting.  I  once  knew  of 
one  that  was  holier,  but  that  began  with  a  prayer. 

But  a  narrative  is  like  a  star — it  perishes  if  it  stops 
moving.     So  let  us  proceed. 


V. 

-THE     UNIVERSITY. 

O  61  nalg,   izdvruv  drjpiuv,   iari  dva/u-eraxeiptcToTaTov. 

— Plato,  Lee/,  vii.  14. 
Of  all  wild  beasts,  a  boy  is  the  hardest  to  manage. 


1.  Breakers  atiead. 

2.  Behiolci  the  Seraipeum.! 

3.  Anothier  schiool  qu-ite  as  good. 

4.  A  Nlessianic  partnerstiip. 


V. 

THE    UNIVERSITY. 

EARLY  the  next  morning  Cimon  and  Aleph  trans- 
ferred themselves  and  their  effects  to  a  small  khan 
in  the  Egyptian  quarter  of  the  city.  This  was  done  for 
the  following  reasons. 

The  events  of  the  Sabbath  seemed  to  make  it  prudent 
to  withdraw  from  public  notice  as  much  as  possible.  Of 
course,  the  son  of  Flaccus  was  a  source  of  danger  :  and 
then  the  seeming  look  of  recognition  on  the  face  of 
Mains,  which  both  of  them  had  noticed,  was  not  a  pleas- 
ant feature  of  the  situation.  It  was  the  silent  lightning 
on  the  horizon.  They  felt  it  even  more  important,  just 
then,  to  keep  out  of  the  sight  of  the  Jew  than  it  was  to 
keep  out  of  the  sight  of  the  Roman,  Especially  after  an 
incident  that  occurred  on  their  way  back  from  the  syna- 
gogue. 

As  they  came  down  the  steps  of  the  Diapleuston,  they 
noticed  a  Jew  across  the  street,  watching  them.  Before 
they  had  gone  far,  Aleph,  happening  to  look  behind,  saw 
the  man  following,  and  spoke  of  it  to  Cimon.  They 
walked  slower — at  length  very  slowly.  The  man  slack- 
ened his  pace  to  suit.  They  walked  faster — at  length 
very  fast.  The  man  quickened  his  pace  correspondingly. 
It  was  annoying. 


84  THE    UNIVERSITY. 

^^  Let  us  go  to  meet  him/'  said  Cimon,  "  and  see  if  he 
will  retreat/' 

Accordingly  they  turned  and^  for  a  moment^  it  seemed 
as  if  their  shadow  would  turn  too.  But  he  thought  better 
of  it ;  and  only  stood  still,  in  some  confusion,  till  they 
came  up. 

"  Can  we  do  anything  for  you  V  inquired  the  Greek. 
^^  If  so  we  are,at  your  service." 

^'  I  certainly  owe  you  an  apology/'  stammered  the 
Jew.  ^^  The  fact  is,  I  was  in  the  synagogue  at  the  time 
of  the  disturbance,  and  was  so  struck  with  the  very  great 
likeness  of  this  young  man  to  one  whom  I  saw  many  years 
ago  that  I  determined  to  wait  for  his  coming  out  and  to 
follow  him — in  hope  of  finding  where  he  was  staying, 
or  at  least  of  getting  a  better  view.  And  I  have  got- 
ten it,"  he  added  laughingly,  '^\\\  a  way  I  did  not 
expect,  but  certainly  deserved.  However,  I  will  not 
complain  ;  as  I  now  have  an  opportunity  to  thank  you 
both  for  standing  up  so  boldly  and  effectually  for  us 
to-day." 

*'  Well,"  said  Cimon,  good-humoredly,  ^^  since  we  have 
now  gratified  your  curiosity,  perhaps  you  will  not  refuse 
to  gratify  ours  by  telling  us  who  you  are,  and  whom  you 
suppose  this  young  man  to  resemble." 

*^  That  is  but  fair,"  returned  the  Jew.  ^'  I  keep  a 
khan  at  the  east  end  of  this  street,  near  the  gate  of  Cano- 
pus,  as  did  my  father  before  me.  When  I  was  a  youth, 
there  came  to  our  place  from  Judea  a  caravan  of  eastern 
people,  evidently  of  great  distinction,  on  their  way  home- 
ward by  the  Red  Sea  route.  It  was  in  this  company  that 
I  saw  a  man  whose  appearance  made  such  an  impression 
on  me  that  if  I  were  a  painter  I  could  put  him  on  canvas 


THE   UNIVERSITY.  85 

to-day  :  and  this  young  man  is  his  double— perhaps  some- 
what brightened  by  youth." 

''  I  have  to  confess,"  said  Aleph  with  a  smile,  ''  that 
I  am  a  Chaldean  ;  and  also  that  all  Chaldeans  have  a  cer- 
tain likeness  to  one  another.  But  you  must  not  forget 
that  the  imagination  is  a  powerful  faculty,  especially 
among  us  orientals,  and  has  sometimes  been  known  to  see 
things  that  did  not  exist.  But  you  can  see  for  yourself, 
without  any  help  from  your  imagination,  that  the  peculiar 
way  in  which  this  conference  has  come  about  has  attracted 
the  notice  of  the  street,  and  that  the  curious  are  beginning 
to  thicken  about  us.  So  now  let  us  separate  :  but,  as  soon 
as  our  affairs  permit,  we  will  seek  you  out  and  hear  further 
about  the  pilgrims  of  whom  you  speak." 

So  they  parted.  But  the  incident,  especially  after  re- 
flection and  conference  early  the  next  morning,  deter- 
mined the  friends  to  withdraw  as  fully  as  possible  from 
the  Jewish  and  Roman  quarters  of  the  city,  and  to  hasten 
certain  inquiries  as  to  Mains. 

There  are  two  kinds  of  prophecy— the  natural  and  the 
supernatural.  The  latter  is  a  spark  from  the  Divine  fore- 
knowledge, granted  occasionally  to  certain  privileged  per- 
sons. That  our  friends  had  anything  of  this  I  am  not 
prepared  to  say  ;  but  they  were  reasonably  well  furnished 
with  such  foresight  as  reason  and  experience  can  give ; 
and  what  they  foresaw  was  very  considerable  annoyance 
and  even  danger  if  they  should  remain  at  their  present 
quarters.  So  they  determined  to  remove.  This  was  not 
valor,  certainly.  As  certainly  it  was  not  cowardice.  But 
it  was  that  good  thing  which  we  call  prudence,  and  which 
sensible  people  think  to  be  almost  or  quite  as  good  as  hero- 
ism itself.     It  was  a  wise  precaution— the  tacking  of  the 


86  THE   UNIVERSITY. 

ship  when  breakers  are  seen  ahead,  the  putting  on  of 
armor  when  the  arrows  begin  to  fly,  the  striking  tent  and 
removing  to  higher  ground  when  the  morning  sky  is  red 
and  lowering,  and  there  is  a  sound  of  abundance  of  rain. 

Have  I  said  that  the  strangers  were  in  the  habit  of 
asking  each  morning  for  Divine  guidance  during  the 
day  ?  If  not,  I  ought  to  have  said  it.  And  the  habit  was 
no  empty  form.  When  they  had  risen  from  their  knees 
they  seemed  free  from  anxiety  as  to  what  might  happen, 
though  not  free  from  forethought  and  a  disposition  to  be 
very  active  in  pursuit  of  their  objects.  Queer  people,  were 
they  not  ?  Some  would  say  they  were  very  absurd  as  well 
as  queer.  However  this  may  be,  it  is  certain  that  Aleph 
and  his  friend  did  not  stir  a  step  that  morning  even  in 
the  matter  of  planning,  till  they  had  sought  leading  from 
a  wisdom  above  their  own.  And  what  they  did  that 
morning  they  may  be  counted  on  to  do  every  morning 
while  we  follow  their  fortunes.  Will  it  be  of  any  service 
to  them  ?  Perhaps  they  have  found  in  their  Septuagint 
several  passages  like  this,  "  Commit  thy  way  unto  the 
Lord  and  he  shall  direct  thy  paths." 

Perhaps  Cimon  found  more  difficulty  than  his  young 
companion  in  keeping  free  from  anxiety  on  account  of 
what  had  occurred.     He  felt  a  responsibility  for  both. 

'^  It  seems  unfortunate,"  said  he,  after  their  devotions, 
*^^not  only  that  we  should  have  been  brought  again  into 
collision  with  the  Eomans,  wlio  can  do  so  much  to  hinder 
at  least  one  of  our  objects,  but  that  it  has  come  about  in 
such  a  way  as  to  attract  to  us  the  notice  of  the  whole 
Jewish  community.  For,  of  course,  yesterday's  events 
will  be  public  talk  to-day,  and  everybody  will  be  inquir- 
ing and  surmising  about  the  strangers.     And  I  am  very 


THE    UNIVERSITY.  87 

much  afraid  that  Mains  has  ah-eady  caught  a  spark  that 
in  such  a  gale  will  set  all  his  suspicions  and  craft  on  fire. 
But  as  these  seemingly  untoward  things  could  not  well 
have  been  avoided  by  us,  I  cannot  but  hope  that  the  un- 
towardness  is  only  in  seeming.  I  have  lived  long  enough 
to  know  that  a  Divine  leading  can  brighten  seeming  perils 
and  disasters  into  blessings.  But  it  seems  a  reasonable 
condition  of  Divine  guidance  that  we  try  to  act  as  pru- 
dently as  we  can,  from  the  human  stand-point.  And 
prudence  seems  to  require  that  we  at  once  remove  to  the 
Egyptian  quarter  ;  that  you  matriculate  in  the  University, 
and  thus  secure  its  immunities  for  yourself,  as  well  as  meet 
the  wishes  of  your  father  that  you  hear  for  yourself  the 
scholars  of  the  west ;  and  that  I  j^roceed  without  delay  to 
make  the  inquiries  we  need  to  make  in  regard  to  Mains. 
These  inquiries  will  have  to  be  made  as  quietly  and  rapidly 
as  possible  ;  for  if  he  should  take  the  alarm  his  craft  and 
influence  are  evidently  such  that  he  might  seriously  em- 
barrass our  movements — if  not  baffle  them." 

And  so  it  came  to  pass  that  the  early  morning  found 
them  established  in  a  quiet  khan  almost  under  the  shadow 
of  the  Serapeum. 

This  does  not  localize  them  very  definitely  ;  for  the 
Serapeum  cast  a  very  great  shadow.  The  temple,  or 
rather  collection  of  temples,  was,  by  all  odds,  the  most  im- 
posing structure  in  Alexandria.  It  was  built  on  an  eleva- 
tion, 2:)artly  artificial,  the  ascent  to  which  on  three  sides 
was  by  broad  flights  of  steps  and  successive  platforms ; 
while  on  the  north  side  the  ascent  began  at  the  harbor 
and  advanced  by  a  grade  easy  for  vehicles  to  the  great 
Propylon.  This  was  purely  Egyptian.  To  the  right  and 
left  of  it  rose  walls  of  red  syenite,  high  and  massive  enough 


88  THE    UNIVERSITY. 

to  be  the  walls  of  a  city,  decorated  with  many  towers,  and 
inclosing  the  whole  levelled  summit  of  the  hill  with  their 
somewhat  irregular  lines.  Within  these,  at  a  little  dis- 
tance, and  built  of  the  same,  though  much  finer  and  care-  . 
fully  wrought,  stone,  rose  the  complicate  structures  of  the 
temple  proper.  It  was  a  little  city  by  itself.  And,  tower- 
ing above  all  other  structures,  it  seemed  to  protect  Alex- 
andria  and  defy  the  seas  beyond. 

Like  most  Egyptian  structures  it  was  most  successful 
in  giving  to  beholders  the  ideas  of  massiveness  and  vast- 
ness.  Yet  the  airiness  of  the  situation,  combined  with  a 
mingling  of  the  various  Hellenic  architectures  with  the 
Egyptian,  seemed  to  relieve  the  ponderous  pile  of  any  air 
of  heaviness.  For  Pharaohs  and  Ptolemies,  Mother  Isis 
and  her  vagrant  daughters  Doris  and  lone  and  Cora, 
were  all  represented  in  the  confused  mass  of  templed 
structures  designed  to  welcome  all  the  classical  creeds. 

The  most  striking  features  of  the  temple,  to  one  look- 
ing up  to  it  from  the  street,  were,  perhaps,  an  enormous 
canopy  that  seemed  to  overhang  the  whole  pile  of  build- 
ings and  a  tower  by  its  side  that  rose  still  higher.  This 
tower  was  the  famous  observatory  where  Eratosthenes  and 
Hipparchus  had  made  their  observations  ;  and  in  the 
spacious  halls  at  its  base  was  deposited  the  greater  part  of 
the  then  existing  Alexandrian  library — consisting  of  some 
200,000  works  collected  by  the  Ptolemies,  together  with 
300,000  parchments  brought  from  Pergamos  by  Mark 
Antony  for  Cleopatra. 

The  Serapeum  was  under  Egyptian  control,  but  was 
greatly  revered  by  devout  Greeks  and  Romans  as  well  as 
by  Egyptians.  Each  nation  regarded  the  god  to  whom 
the  temple  was  dedicated  and  whose  statue  of  mingled 


THE    Ui^IVEIiSITY.  89 

marble  and  silver  and  gold  was  there  enshrined,  as  being 
the  chief  of  all  its  gods — the  Egyptians  calling  it  Osiris, 
the  Greeks  Zeus,  and  the  Romans  Jupiter.  For  some 
reason,  of  late  years,  this  statue  had  been  kept  in  a  dark 
room,  and  was  seldom,  if  ever,  shown  to  the  people  at 
large.  They  worshipped  without  the  presence  of  any  vis- 
ible symbol  of  deity.  The  priests  were  numerous  and  of 
the  highest  rank.  The  chief  of  all  was  primate  of  all 
Egypt. 

To  its  religious  character  the  Serapeum  added  that  of 
an  institution  of  learning.  Its  jiriests  had  among  their 
own  peoj)le  the  reputation  for  wisdom  which  belonged  to 
the  ancient  Egyptian  j^riesthood  among  all  nations — and 
not  without  reason.  Their  priestly  duties  being  light, 
they  spent  much  time  in  studying  the  sciences  and  phi- 
loso2:)hies  as  then  known,  and  in  training  young  priests  to 
the  same.  In  addition,  the  more  eminent  among  them 
taught  on  certain  topics  in  the  Alexandrian  School.  They 
were  recognized  by  the  Ptolemies,  and  afterward  by  the 
emperors,  as  in  all  respects  peers  of  the  teachers  located 
at  the  Museum. 

Indeed,  among  people  religiously  inclined  their  stand- 
ing was  altogether  superior  to  that  of  the  secular  pro- 
fessors. They  were  far  more  sober  and  practical  in  their 
teachings.  They  more  boldly  recognized  religion  and 
taught  on  lines  parallel  with  it.  They  had  stricter  no- 
tions of  what  could  properly  be  called  science  and  philos- 
ophy. A  few  facts  blown  up  into  prettily  colored  bubbles, 
and  then  tossed  into  the  air  on  exhibition,  and  then  col- 
lapsing, and  then  succeeded  by  another  output  of  pretty 
emptinesses,  and  this  by  another,  and  so  on — such  were  the 
substance  and  history  of  the  better  part  of  the  ever-chang- 


90  THE   UNIVERSITY. 

ing  teaching  of  tlie  Museum.  The  worse  part  had  no 
foundation  in  facts  at  all.  In  fact,  facts  were  scorned. 
They  were  vulgar.  The  lofty  name  of  wisdom  should  be 
given  only  to  great  general  intuitions  and  the  logical  de- 
ductions from  them.  And  as  the  teachers  were  by  no 
means  careful  in  either  their  premises  or  their  processes, 
their  conclusions  were  apt  to  be  worthless  when  they  were 
not  pernicious.  In  short,  the  Museum  was  the  child  of 
Athens  and  the  mother  of  Germany. 

Accordingly,  many  of  the  noblest  families  in  the  neigh- 
boring countries  turned  their  faces  toward  the  Serapeum. 
They  were  disgusted  at  the  laborious  trifling.  They  were 
alarmed  at  the  decay  of  faith.  If  their  sons  could  not 
have  something  that  deserved  to  be  called  knowledge,  and 
knowledge  without  impiety  and  all  the  terrors,  they  did 
not  want  them  to  have  it  at  all.  But  if  they  could  have  it 
thoroughly  leavened  with  religious  ideas — why,  they  would 
welcome  it,  be  very  glad  of  it,  pour  out  for  it  their  shekels 
or  sestertii  or  staters  freely.  Such  people  found  what 
they  wanted  in  the  priest- teachers  of  the  Serapeum  ;  and 
said  to  themselves  that  if  religion  is  the  supreme  wisdom 
then  are  the  ministers  of  religion  the  supreme  professors. 

All  this  Cimon  recalled  and  spoke  of  when  he  found 
himself  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  temple.  And  he  pro- 
posed that  Aleph  should  matriculate  there  instead  of  at 
the  Museum — as  being  the  nearer  and  more  conservative 
branch  of  the  University,  as  well  as  more  remote  from 
the  Roman  headquarters. 

"I  do  not  think,"  said  he,  ^^that  you  will  need  to 
confine  yourself  very  closely  to  the  routine  of  lectures. 
Many  of  the  more  advanced  students  do  not.  You  are 
already  familiar  through  me  with  the  main  subjects  dis- 


THE   UNIVERSITY.  91 

cussed  in  both  the  Athenian  and  Alexandrian  Schools  : 
and  I  do  not  imagine  that  you  will  hear  much  that  is 
new  ;  only  you  will  hear  the  old  said  in  a  new  way,  with 
new  illustrations  and  personal  modifications,  which  is  not 
without  its  advantage  to  a  young  man.  And  you  will 
have  what,  perhaps,  is  a  still  greater  advantage,  that  of 
mingling  with  and  studying  the  leading  young  men  of 
the  West.  As  to  the  present  preliminaries  for  admission 
to  the  School,  you  had  better  apply  to  Seti  for  informa- 
tion." 

''And  why  not  ask  his  advice,  also,"  said  Aleph,  "as 
to  how  you  had  better  proceed  in  the  affair  of  Mains  ?  It 
would  be  a  safe  thing  to  do.  The  priest  is  not  in  love 
with  the  trader." 

"Perhaps,"  returned  the  Greek,  "this  is  the  best 
thing  to  be  done.  Still  I  feel  reluctant  to  do  it — at  least 
till  I  have  proved  it  necessary.  It  is  a  good  rule  not  to 
call  on  others  to  help  you  till  you  have  tried  to  help  your- 
self. We  must  spare  our  friends  as  much  as  possible. 
And  I  do  not  see  that  any  harm  can  be  done  by  my  going 
directly  to  the  custom  house  and  inquiring  on  what  terms 
abstracts  from  the  records  can  be  made,  or  by  my  going 
to  leading  dealers  and  asking  how  the  prices  of  certain 
goods  have  ruled  in  Alexandria  for  a  term  of  years.  Let 
me  cautiously  feel  my  way  about  to-day  by  myself  :  by  the 
evening  I  shall  be  better  able  to  see  whether  we  need  to 
call  in  help  from  outside." 

As  soon  as  Cimon  had  gone,  Aleph  inquired  of  the 
landlord  at  what  part  of  the  temple  he  should  present 
himself.  Climbing  successive  flights  of  steps  that  began 
almost  at  the  khan,  he  came  to  the  broad  carriage-way  of 
which  we  have  spoken.     As  yet  very  few  people  could  be 


92  THE    UNIVERSITY. 

seen  upon  it — none  who  seemed  moving  to  the  temple. 
This  led  him  to  think  that  very  likely  he  was  yet  too  early 
for  the  temple  habits,  and  had  better  linger  a  little  before 
seeking  admittance.  So  he  sat  down  on  one  of  the  stone 
seats,  placed  at  intervals  by  the  wayside  for  the  conven- 
ience of  the  weary  and  the  idle,  and  proceeded  to  study  at 
his  leisure  the  stately  fa9ade  of  the  temple.  While  thus 
engaged  he  heard  voices  just  back  of  the  wall  against 
which  he  was  leaning. 

A  voice  laughed  heartily. 

**Have  you  been  at  your  cups  so  early?"  said  another 
voice  testily.  ^'  I  should  have  thought  that  these  leeks 
and  onions  would  set  you  to  crying.  That  is  what  they 
do  to  me.^^ 

"I  couldn't  cry  if  I  were  up  to  my  eyes  in  the  onions 
of  Nauticratis,"  said  the  other.  "  Oh,  it  was  such  a  capi- 
tal thing  !  Why,  the  very  gods  themselves  must  be  shak- 
ing with  laughter — at  least  our  Egyptian  gods." 

**  Who  ever  heard  of  an  Egyptian  god  laughing  ?  Our 
deities  never  did  that  in  the  best  days  of  the  country. 
They  who  were  as  grim  as  fate  when  Thebes  was  in  its 
glory  are  not  likely  to  smile  now  when  Thebes  is  dead, 
and  a  Roman  garrison  is  in  Alexandria,  and  a  Roman 
Governor  in  the  palace  of  Seti." 

*^  That  is  just  it — now  you  are  coming  to  the  point !  " 
cried  the  other;  ^^it  is  just  hecause  there  is  a  Roman 
garrison  in  Alexandria  and  a  Roman  Propraitor  in  the 
ancestral  palace  of  Seti  that  our  gods,  calm  and  grave  as 
they  generally  are,  must  have  had  a  merry  time  of  it 
yesterday." 

"  There,  take  that,  you  provoking  Sphinx  ! "  (and 
Aleph  heard  something  strike  against  the  wall).    "  If  you 


THE   UI^IVERSITY.  93 

do  not  expound  your  riddle  right  away  it  will  be,  not  two 
onions  that  your  empty  head  will  get,  but  a  whole  basket 
of  them."  • 

'^  Do  you  pretend  to  say  that  you  have  not  heard  what 
took  place  yesterday  at  the  Diapleuston  ?  Why,  the 
whole  city  is  ringing  with  it — at  least  the  Jewish  Quarter. 
The  Roman  Quarter  will  be  silent  enough,  I  Avarrant/^ 

'*  Have  heard  nothing.  Was  in  Canopus  yesterday — 
came  back  before  people  were  stirring  this  morning. 
What  is  it  ?     Out  with  it,  Fian  ! " 

"  An  you  be  a  true  son  of  Egypt,  now  open  your  ears 
and  mouth  !  Yesterday  the  Governor  took  a  hundred 
soldiers  and  tried  to  make  the  Jews  at  the  Diapleuston 
worship  an  image  of  the  emperor.  A  magnificent  young 
man  in  shining  armor  suddenly  appeared  on  the  scene, 
disarmed  Flaccus,  and  encouraged  the  Jcavs  to  give  the 
whole  party  a  good  drubbing.  Which  they  did.  The 
Romans  were  pommelled  within  an  inch  of  their  lives, 
then  tumbled  headlong  into  the  street,  and  then  chased 
on  a  full  run  quite  to  Bruchium.  Gods  !  what  a  treat  to 
see  Flaccus  run !  I  would  have  given  ten  years  of  my 
life  to  see  it.  And  now  it  is  said  that  Alexander,  the 
favorite  banker  of  the  emperor,  and  heavier  with  him 
than  all  the  pyramids  put  together,  has  just  written  to 
the  governor  demanding  an  apology  for  his  behavior  ;  and 
threatening  to  report  him  to  the  emperor." 

"  Give  us  your  fist,  old  fellow  !  Here  goes  my  cap — 
to  the  moon,  for  aught  I  care.  This  is  good  news,  capital 
news,  news  fit  for  the  gods,  news — almost  too  good  to  be 
true  !  But  it  ought  to  be  true,  and  so  true  it  must  be. 
Let  the  gods  laugh  till  the  skies  crack.  To  see  the 
Romans  soundly  thrashed  and  running  away  with  their 


94  THE   UNIVEKSITY. 

tails  between  their  legs  must  have  been  a  treat  for  heaven 
and  earth.  I  could  give  that  young  man  a  chaplet — who 
is  he  ?  " 

"Just  what  everybody  is  asking/^ 

"  And  just  what,  in  my  opinion,  nobody  will  ever  find 
out ;  for  he  must  have  been  at  once  rapturously  spirited 
olf  by  the  celestials  to  their  own  country  for  the  good 
service  done  us.    Perhaps  he  was  a  celestial  to  begin  with." 

"  That  reminds  me  that  I  did  hear  some  Jews  debat- 
ing whether  he  might  not  be  the  Wonderful  Deliverer 
whom  they  are  expecting.^' 

Was  there  any  danger  that  Aleph  would  be  unduly 
exalted  in  his  own  estimation  by  such  a  very  compliment- 
ary account  of  himself?  Perhaps  he  was  saved  from  this 
peril  by  the  several  large  exaggerations  of  the  story.  What 
more  natural  than  for  him  to  say,  "And  I,  too,  am  an 
exaggeration  V 

At  any  rate,  he  wasted  no  time  in  arguing  the  matter ; 
for  he  now  noticed  that  the  postern  at  the  side  of  the 
great  gate  was  being  opened  to  a  comer.  So  he  rose, 
advanced  leisurely  to  the  postern,  and  plied  the  knocker 
which  hung  from  a  small  window  above.  The  door 
opened.  He  told  the  porter  that  he  wished  to  see  the 
priest  Seti. 

"I  suppose  you  mean  the  AiV/7^-priest  Seti  !"  said  the 
man  with  dignity. 

"  Very  possibly, ^^  said  AleiDh.  ."Is  there  here  more 
than  one  priest  of  that  name  ?  " 

"  I  know  of  no  other." 

"  Then  I  wish  to  see  the  hir/h-\ir'iest  Seti.  Please  have 
him  informed  that  Aleph  the  Chaldean  wishes  to  see 
him." 


THE    UNIVERSITY,  95 

The  porter  glanced  outside,  as  if  to  see  whether  there 
was  any  fine  equipage,  with  servants,  before  the  great 
gateway  :  then  said  : 

''You  probably  will  not  be  able  to  see  him  this 
morning.  I  doubt  if  he  would  see  the  prefect  of  the 
city.- 

"  But  I  am  not  the  prefect — as  you  have  just  seen.  I 
am  a  visitor  more  likely  to  be  acceptable  to  the  high- 
priest  :  for  I  come  by  his  express  invitation.  So  I  will 
enter  and  stay  in  the  hall  till  an  answer  comes  to  my 
message '' — and  he  advanced  on  the  man  with  so  decisive 
and  commanding  an  air  that  he  gave  way  and  admitted 

him. 

"  Now  if  you  will  send  my  message  at  once,  you  will 
do  no  more  than  your  duty/'  said  Aleph  coolly. 

So  a  servant  was  sent  off  ;  who  after  a  few  moments 
returned  and,  with  an  air  of  great  respect,  said,  "  The 
high-priest  will  see  you.  I  will  conduct  you  to  him.'' 
But  he  was  spared  the  trouble,  for  just  then  Seti  himself 
appeared,  received  his  visitor  in  a  way  that  astonished  the 
servants,  and  conducted  him  to  his  own  private  rooms. 

''You  see,"  said  the  young  man  with  that  modesty 
and  deference  of  manner  that  are  so  graceful  and  winning 
in  the  young  toward  age  and  station,  "that  I  have  very 
soon  availed  myself  of  your  permission  to  call  upon  you. 
It  is  the  wish  of  my  father  that  I  should,  while  in  Alex- 
andria, hear  for  myself  the  scholars  of  the  west ;  though 
the  Greek  preceptor,  who  has  conducted  my  education 
and  whom  you  have  seen,  has  already  made  me  acquainted 
in  a  general  way  with  the  western  literature  and  learning 
as  it  was  taught  in  his  youth,  both  here  and  at  Athens. 
And,  as  I  am  told  that  the  Serapeum  stands  for  a  branch 


96  THE    UNIVERSITY. 

of  the  Alexandrian  School,  I  wish  to  join  it  here  ;  and 
have  come  to  yon  to  learn  in  what  way  I  may  do  so,  and 
become  entitled  to  snch  privileges  and  immunities  as 
membership  confers/' 

"  I  am  glad  that  you  propose  doing  this/'  returned 
the  high-priest ;  ^'  especially  because  I  have  heard  from 
Alexander  of  the  events  of  yesterday.  No  doubt  there  is 
danger  abroad  ;  but  if  any  class  among  us  is  specially 
exempt  from  espial  and  interference  by  the  civil  and  mili- 
tary authorities  it  is  that  of  the  students.  So  we  will 
have  you  booked  without  delay.  Where  are  you  now 
lodged  ?  " 

On  hearing  of  the  transfer  to  his  own  neighborhood, 
Seti  added  : 

^^That  is  just  what  I  was  about  to  propose.  The 
Eomans  have  less  to  do  with  this  part  of  the  city  than 
with  any  other.  Neither  my  son  nor  myself  anticipate 
any  trouble  from  the  authorities  on  account  of  what  oc- 
curred yesterday.  They  probably  will  disavow  all  connec- 
tion with  it,  on  account  of  my  son's  influence  at  Rome. 
At  the  same  time  they,  no  doubt,  are  in  full  sympathy 
with  the  rascals  and  will  let  them  off  without  punishment, 
if  not  with  secret  commendation.  This  everybody  is  sure 
of — I  mean  everybody  who  knows  that  the  leader  in  the 
affair  was  the  son  of  Flaccus.  Your  chief  danger  will  be 
from  that  reprobate.  After  the  lessons  he  has  had  he  is 
not  likely  to  attack  you  in  front ;  but  you  will  need  to  be 
on  your  guard  against  all  mean  and  dishonorable  ways  of 
attack.  He  is  the  greatest  scoundrel  in  Alexandria — after 
his  father  and  Mains,  who  have  all  his  vices  and  hypocrisy 
in  addition.     But  come,  let  us  lose  no  time  in  matriculat- 


ing." 


THE    UNIVERSITY.  97 

Seti  then  led  the  way  to  a  large  hall  with  a  platform 
and  seats. 

^^This/"  said  he,  ^^  is  our  chief  lecture-room  ;  and  here 
some  of  the  professors  who  live  and  lecture  at  the  Museum 
come  at  stated  times  to  repeat  their  lectures.  This  door 
opens  into  the  tower  from  the  top  of  which  our  astrono- 
mers observe  the  stars  ;  and  sometimes  other  things  nearer 
home,  as,  for  example,  the  flight  and  pursuit  yesterday 
along  the  street  of  Canopus.  The  doors  on  the  other 
three  sides  open  into  the  library  with  its  500,000  differ- 
ent works  on  paj^yrus  and  parchment.  Let  us  pass 
into  it."*' 

Aleph  now  found  himself  in  a  room,  or  rather  a  suite 
of  rooms,  lighted  wholly  from  above,  whose  sides  were 
shining  with  the  copper  cylinders  which  contained  the 
literary  treasures  of  many  lands  and  centuries.  AVhat 
woidd  our  modern  bibliopoles  not  give  for  the  same  priv- 
ilege ?  At  central  tables  and  in  recesses  were  scholars 
poring  over  open  rolls— also  professional  scribes  copying 
manuscripts  with  careful  exactness  and  a  beauty  of  result 
wonderful  to  see.  Seti  led  his  companion  freely  within 
the  bronze  railing  that  fenced  the  collection  from  the 
general  public  ;  taking  down  and  exhibiting  some  notably 
rare  or  beautiful  rolls — among  others  the  entire  works  of 
Berosus  and  Manetho  and  Sanconiathon,  of  which,  un- 
fortunately, we  now  have  only  a  few  fragments. 

At  length  they  stopped  before  a  small  open  office, 
within  which  sat  a  uniformed  official.  He  rose  respect- 
fully.    Seti  asked  for  the  University  register. 

^'  Write  your  name,  as  you  wish  it  to  be  known,  here," 
he  said,  pointing  to  a  page,  '^  and  then  pay  to  this  man 
as  initiation  fee  one  gold  stater.    Then  when  I  have  writ- 


98  THE    UNIVERSITY. 

ten  my  name  as  sponsor  over  against  yours  on  tlie  opposite 
page,  you  will  be  a  member  of  the  University  and  entitled 
to  wear  its  badge  conspicuously  on  your  tunic — also,  when- 
ever you  please,  the  University  toga.  But  this  latter  is 
usually  reserved  for  special  occasions,  and  can  be  procured 
at  your  leisure.  ^^ 

Aleph  followed  directions  and  received  a  large  gold 
badge,  which  he  was  told  was  only  one  stater  additional. 
Seti  himself  fastened  it  conspicuously  on  the  tunic  of  the 
new  student.  He  also  received  from  the  registrar  a  sylla- 
bus of  the  lectures  for  many  weeks  at  both  the  Sera]3eum 
and  Museum.  Glancing  it  over  he  noticed  that  Seti  was 
one  of  the  lecturers  and  Philo  another — the  one  on  history 
and  ethical  philosophy,  the  other  on  Plato  and  compara- 
tive religions. 

^'  Now,"  said  Seti,  as  they  were  returning  through  the 
lecture  room,  "  I  have  hurried  you  through  these  formali- 
ties for  two  reasons — one  of  which  is  that  I  wish  you  to 
have  as  soon  as  possible  the  benefit  of  being  a  recognized 
member  of  our  University.  The  other  reason  is  that  I 
wish  to  get  you  to  do  me  a  favor.  Just  before  you  came 
I  had  a  message  from  Rachel,  my  grand-daughter,  that 
the  Greek  leech,  who  is  employed  for  her  nurse,  has  gone 
back  to  his  old  treatment  and  that  the  woman  is  again 
rapidly  sinking.  It  seems  that  the  husband  not  merely 
supports  the  leech  in  his  course,  but  absolutely  requires  it 
of  him.  I  suspect  that  the  brute  wants  to  get  rid  of  her. 
Now,  I  have  an  important  engagement  this  morning, 
which  will  prevent  my  going  personally  to  look  after  the 
case  at  the  time  she  mentions — I  see  by  this  clepsydra 
that  the  time  is  near — and  as  the  matter  is  urgent  I  could 
wish  to  have  you  go  in  my  stead  and  deal  with  both  the 


THE   UNIVERSITY.  99 

husband  and  the  leech  as  you  may  find  occasion  in  order 
to  save  the  woman's  life.  Can  you  do  me  this  favor  ?  I 
think  there  is  no  lecture  to-day." 

''Certainly/'  said  Aleph,  ''I  will  do  what  I  can,  for 
your  treatment  is  that  of  my  own  country  ;  though,  I  con- 
fess, I  do  not  at  present  see  how  I  am  to  enforce  your 
wishes  in  case  the  leech  and  the  husband  should  both 
prove  obstinate." 

"That  is  a  difficulty,"  returned  the  Egyptian  ;  ''but 
I  must  leave  you  to  solve  it  as  you  best  can.  This  will  be 
no  disadvantage  to  your  education.  The  young  man  who 
has  learned  how  to  deal  with  difficult  men  in  difficult  cir- 
cumstances has  graduated  at  a  higher  university  than 
teaches  in  the  Serapeum  and  Museum.  So  take  a  lesson 
in  the  university  of  human  nature  ;  and,  perhaps,  when  I 
join  you,  which  will  be  as  soon  as  my  business  will  allow, 
you  can  reproduce  the  lesson  for  me." 

Aleph  could  not  well  help  noticing  the  change  that 
had  come  over  the  manners  of  the  porter  as  Seti  and  him- 
self approached  the  postern  in  close  conversation.  The 
man  had  exchanged  impudence  for  obsequiousness.  He 
was  all  deference  and  humbleness.  His  bow  was  so  low, 
as  he  set  the  postern  wide  open,  that  one  might  reasona- 
bly have  feared  that  the  hinge  in  his  back  had  entirely 
given  way  in  favor  of  a  prostration.  Has  it  not  been 
noticed  in  all  ages  that  impudence  and  servility  are  near 
of  kin  to  each  other  and  are  never  far  apart  ? 

In  due  time  Aleph  presented  himself  at  the  house  of 
the  sick  woman.  The  same  forbidding  looking  man  who 
had  acted  as  porter  before  now  answered  to  his  knock,  but 
only  opened  the  door  a  hand  breadth. 

After  waiting  a  moment  for  an  invitation  to  enter, 


100  TUE    UNIVERSITY. 

wliicli  he  did  not  get,  the  young  man  said,  '^Will  you  not 
permit  me  to  enter  ? '' 

"  What  is  your  business  ?  "  demanded  the  fellow  in  a 
surly  tone,  making  the  opening  of  the  door  still  less. 

'^A  friendly  one,"  said  Aleph.  ''I  will  explain  it 
more  fully  when  I  have  entered  and  delivered  to  you — 
that  is,  if  you  are  the  husband  of  the  sick  woman — some 
money  which  I  have  for  you." 

The  word  money  seemed  to  throw  a  shade  of  uncer- 
tainty into  the  man's  face.  At  length  he  said  :  ^'I  am 
her  husband.  Why  cannot  you  deliver  the  money  to  me 
here  ?  " 

'^  Of  course  I  can,"  said  Aleph.  ''^  The  only  difficulty 
lies  in  my  disposition.  The  gold  is  in  my  pouch,  my  arm 
is  long  enough  to  reach  it,  and  your  hand  is  near  enough 
to  take  it :  but  you  see,  man,  it  does  not  suit  my  humor 
to  give  gold  to  a  man  who  is  rude  enough  to  shut  his  door 
in  my  face.  I  hardly  think  you  yourself  would  be  liberal 
under  like  circumstances — would  you  ?" 

''  My  wife  is  very  sick — it  may  be  dying.  Your  com- 
ing in  will  disturb  her." 

^'  Dying  people  are  not  apt  to  be  disturbed  by  a  step 
and  voice  as  light  as  mine  will  be.  Besides,  if  the  woman 
is  dying  you  will  need  the  gold  all  the  more.  Death  and 
burial  in  Alexandria  must  be  expensive.  I  suppose  tliere 
are  some  people  here  who  cannot  afford  to  die." 

'^  Well,"  said  the  man,  slowly  and  after  a  pause,  ^^you 
can  come  in ;  but  I  cannot  let  you  remain  but  a  few  mo- 
ments." 

Aleph  promptly  stepped  in  as  the  door  opened ;  and, 
while  the  man  was  closing  and  fastening  it,  made  his  way 
to  the  room  he  had  before  visited.     As  before,  the  air  was 


THE    UNIVERSITY.  101 

close  and  almost  stifling.  As  before,  the  woman  lay  on 
the  bed,  in  about  the  same  death-like  state.  And,  as  be- 
fore, Rachel  sat  behind  her,  supporting  her  head  and  ca- 
ressing it  with  her  hand — her  own  face  a  picture  of  lovely 
distress.  A  man  at  a  table  was,  apparently,  preparing 
some  medicines.  He  was  not  a  bad  looking  man,  save  as 
a  certain  pretentious  and  stubborn  look  is  a  bad  one  on  a 
face  somewhat  stony  and  unsympathetic.  One  would  say 
that  his  sympathy  with  his  patients  would  not  be  likely  to 
interfere  with  his  health  or  his  meals.  His  whole  bearing 
seemed  to  say,  "  I  am  a  leech,  and  I  understand  my  busi- 
ness ; "  and  yet  his  dress  was  too  jDoor  to  suggest  the  idea 
of  a  prosperous  business.  All  this  the  observant  eye  of 
the  young  man  took  in  at  a  glance. 

Rachel  looked  up.  A  look  of  glad  recognition  sprang 
into  every  feature,  but  especially  into  her  welcoming  eyes. 
They  smiled  on  him  through  tears.  He  bowed  profoundly 
in  acknowledgment  of  the  silent  greeting  ;  and,  advancing 
to  her,  said  in  a  low  voice,  '^From  your  grandfather. '' 

Facing  about  on  the  husband,  who  had  closely  fol- 
lowed him,  he  put  a  piece  of  gold  in  his  hand,  saying  as 
he  did  so,  ^^For  the  sick  woman." 

Then  turning  to  the  leech,  he  said  in  a  courteous  tone  : 

"  I  think  I  am  speaking  to  the  physician  in  charge  of 
this  patient.  If  so,  will  he  allow  me  a  few  words  with 
him  in  private  ?  Perhaps  we  can  step  out  into  this  little 
court  for  a  few  moments  " — and  he  at  once  quietly  moved 
to  the  door  leading  to  the  back  court,  opened  it,  and  passed 
out  without  looking  behind  him — passed  to  the  farther 
side  of  the  inclosure,  as  if  sure  of  being  followed.  He  was 
followed,  though  with  some  backwardness. 

'*  I  wish,^'  said  Aleph,  as  he  turned  and  confronted  the 


102  THE    UNIVERSITY. 

leech,  ^^to  confer  with  you  about  tliis  poor  woman.  I 
come  from  some  of  her  friends.  Perhaps  you  know  who 
these  friends  are  ?  " 

"  Is  not  her  husband  a  friend  ?  " 

"  He  certainly  ought  to  be.  As  to  whether  he  is,  I 
have  my  doubts.  At  all  events  he  is  not  one  of  the  friends 
of  whom  I  speak  and  from  whom  I  come.  Do  you  know 
who  that  young  lady  yonder  is  ?  '^ 

"  The  daughter  of  Alexander,  the  great  Jewish 
Banker." 

"  Do  you  know  who  Seti  is  ?  " 

'^He  is  the  Egyptian  high-priest  and  primate." 

'^Well,  these  are  the  friends  in  whose  behalf  I  have 
come  and  for  whom  I  speak.  They  wish  to  save  this 
woman,  and  believe  it  can  be  done  by  the  treatment  which 
was  so  successful  for  the  short  time  it  was  tried.  Will 
you  tell  me  why  it  was  discontinued  ?  " 

''  Because  it  was  contrary  to  all  the  medical  rules  ;  but 
mainly  because  the  man  who  employs  me  insisted  on  a  re- 
turn to  the  old  treatment." 

''  You  mean  the  husband  of  the  sick  woman  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"  Are  you  sure  that  your  employer  is  able  and  disposed 
to  pay  you  for  your  services." 

'^He  evidently  is  poor ;  but  he  says  that  he  has  rich 
friends  who  can  be  depended  on  for  all  expenses.  This 
seems  to  be  true  ;  for  the  house  has  been  lavishly  sup- 
plied for  the  last  few  days  with  every  possible  comfort  by 
some  friends." 

"Whom  do  you  suppose  these  friends  to  be  ?" 

"The  family  of  Alexander  the  Alabarch." 

"  Certainly  these  are  friends  worth  having,"  said  Alepli 


THE    UNIVERSITY.  103 

with  emphasis  ;  ^^and  no  doubt  they  can  be  dejoended  on 
to  meet  all  expenses — if  they  will  promise  as  much.  And 
this  they  are  ready  to  do,  and  more,  provided  you  will 
meet  their  wishes  in  certain  respects." 

'^What  do  they  wish?"  said  the  leech  after  quite  a 
pause. 

^'  That  you  will  take  them  for  employer  instead  of  this 
vagabond  ;  accept  such  compensation  for  your  jDrofessional 
services  as  they  are  accustomed  to  pay ;  and  then,  in  the 
interest  of  science,  suspend  for  a  little  your  way  of  treat- 
ing this  case  in  favor  of  the  one  you  have  just  abandoned. 
We  will  assume  all  responsibilities.  If  the  experiment 
does  not  work  well,  you  can  return  to  the  old  treatment. 
You  had  better  have  the  patronage  of  the  Alabarch  and 
the  Egyptian  primate  than  that  of  this  scoundrel — for 
such  he  is,  unless  his  looks  greatly  belie  him." 

"^I  have  no  very  high  opinion  of  him,  I  confess,"  said 
the  leech.  ^^I  have  seen  more  tender  husbands  than  he  ; 
and  the  woman's  talk  about  him  in  her  delirium  is  far 
from  complimentary.  But  if  we  change  the  treatment  he 
will  be  troublesome.  He  was  very  violent  when  he  dis- 
covered the  first  change." 

"Did  he  tell  you  by  whose  authority  it  was  made  ?" 

"  He  only  said  that  a  strange  man  had  been  meddling 
with  what  did  not  concern  him." 

'^  Then  he  did  not  tell  you  that  this  meddler  was  Seti?" 

"  Certainly  not." 

"Nor  did  the  nurse?" 

"No — but  she  is  mortally  afraid  of  the  man,  and  that 
may  have  kept  her  silent." 

"  Nor  did  the  young  lady?  '' 

"No  :  but  she  had  some  difficulty  in  getting  admission 


104  THE    UNIVERSITY. 

to  the  house,  as  I  think  you  liad  ;  and  it  is  possible  that 
the  man  would  not  admit  her  till  she  had  promised  not  to 
interfere,  and  had  sent  away  her  servants.  Indeed,  I 
thought  I  overheard  as  much/' 

"  No  doubt  the  fellow  will  be  troublesome.  The  only 
thing  to  be  done  is  to  keep  such  a  force  here  as  will  be 
able  to  control  him.  As  long  as  we  ar6  here  we  can  do 
this  ;  but  when  we  leave  we  must  leave  behind  others  who 
will  make  our  places  good.  I  think  I  can  arrange  for 
this.  .  .  .  Now  that  we  have  come  to  an  understanding, 
let  us  go  in  ;  but  do  you  take  the  lead,  as  is  fitting,  in 
making  the  changes." 

When  they  re-entered  the  room  they  found  the  man 
standing  where  they  had  left  him — with  anything  but 
amiability  in  his  face. 

'^  We  have  agreed,'^  said  the  leech  to  him,  ^^  in  order 
to  satisfy  important  friends,  to  try  for  a  while  a  change 
in  the  treatment.  Sometimes  the  failing  powers  will  rally 
wonderfully  under  a  complete  change  of  conditions.  At 
any  rate  we  will  try  it.'' 

He  at  once  set  wide  open  door  and  casement.  Then 
going  to  the  water-jug,  he  j^oured  out  a  large  cup  full  of 
water  and  brought  it  to  Aleph,  who  had  kneeled  at  the 
bedside  and  was  listening  again  at  the  parched  and  twitch- 
ing lips  of  the  unconscious  woman.  He  let  a  few  drops 
fall  upon  them.  He  gently  tried  to  part  the  locked  teeth, 
and  dropi^ed  more.     At  last  he  put  the  cup  to  her  mouth. 

"  STOP  !  "  shouted  the  husband,  as  he  rushed  up — his 
face  white  with  passion  and  a  demon  looking  out  of  his 
eyes — and  with  his  clenclied  hand  struck  the  cup  aside, 
spilling  a  large  part  of  tlie  water  on  the  woman's  face — 
*^Stoi'  !  I  say  :  this  woman  is  under  my  protection." 


THE   UNIVERSITY.  105 

In  a  moment,  Aleph  was  erect  and  confronting  him  : 
^'  And  such  a  protection  ! "  he  scornfully  said.  ''  Such 
a  protection  as  the  thunder  cloud  gives  to  the  tree  it 
strikes — such  a  protection  as  you  have  been  giving  her, 
ever  since  you  enticed  her  away  from  her  friends  under 
the  pretense  that  you  were  a  man  and  not  a  brute.  To 
my  eyes  the  very  shadow  that  you  cast,  and  a  very  black 
shadow  it  is,  is  that  of  a  wild  beast  of  the  meaner  kiud. 
I  have  not  listened  at  these  white  lips  in  vain.  I  know 
something  of  your  story,  and  expect  to  know  more 
shortly — know  enough  now  to  say  that  this  woman  wishes 
no  such  protector.  Death  would  be  a  better  one.  After 
having  made  her  life  miserable  you  shall  not  go  on  to  put 
her  to  death — as  you  seem  to  wish.  Now,  do  you  under- 
stand that  we  shall  proceed  to  treat  this  woman  as  the 
leech  has  said,  and  if  you  interfere,  or  make  any  disturb- 
ance whatever  unsuitable  to  a  sick-room,  we  will  find  such 
ways  of  quieting  you  as  may  be  necessary — for  quiet  we 
will  have,  even  if  we  have  to  turn  you  over  to  the  police 
as  a  dangerous  character." 

Aleph  said  this,  not  loudly,  but  in  so  determined  and 
commanding  a  manner,  and  with  such  rebuking  and 
threatenins:  eves  fastened  on  the  hateful  face  before  him, 
that  for  a  moment  that  face  took  on  a  shade  of  fear  and 
shame  among  its  other  shades— of  which  it  had  not  a  few. 
But  it  was  only  for  a  moment.  He  reinforced  himself,  as 
such  fellows  are  apt  to  do,  by  a  mighty  oath  and  seemed 
about  to  spring  on  the  young  man  ;  but  noting  again  his 
watchful  eye,  the  cane  in  his  hand,  and  his  whole  attitude 
so  full  of  lithe  and  conscious  power,  he  thought  better  of 
it,  and  fell  back  on  the  fighting  resources  of  his  tongue. 
''  This  is  my  wife,  and  this  is  my  house,  at  least  for 


106  THE   UNIVERSITY. 

tlie  time  being ;  and  I  will  do  with  them  as  I  please.  Be- 
cause you  are  an  aristocrat,  and  belong  to  the  university, 
and  wear  better  clothes  than  I,  you  think  you  can  treat 
me  like  a  dog.  But  a  dog  can  bite,  especially  one  of  my 
breed  ;  and  if  I  had  as  many  heads  as  Cerberus  they  should 
all  have  a  bite  at  you.     So  help  me  all  the  infernals  ! '' 

He  flung  out  of  the  room.  They  heard  him  fiercely 
unfastening  the  street  door  and  then  fiercely  slamming  it 
behind  him  as  he  rushed  into  the  street. 

Aleph  at  once  followed  him  and  secured  the  door. 
Returning,  he  resumed  his  work  at  the  bed  as  if  nothing 
had  happened — no  more  color  in  his  cheek,  no  more  ex- 
citement in  his  eye,  no  less  steadiness  in  his  hand  as  he 
again  held  a  cup  of  water  to  the  woman's  lips.  Her  eyes 
were  now  open  and  fastened  on  him.  Perhaps  the  water^ 
with  which  her  face  had  been  flooded  had  freshened  her 
back  to  consciousness.  Perhaps,  too,  the  stormy  scene 
that  had  just  passed  did  something  toward  summoning 
back  her  retreating  vitality.  While  she  drank,  cup  after 
cup,  as  if  it  were  the  nectar  of  the  immortals,  she  never 
took  her  eyes,  eyes  that  seemed  full  of  wonder,  from  the 
calm,  compassionate,  restful  young  face  that  bent  over 
her.  She  afterward  said  that  it  seemed  to  her  the  face  of 
some  benevolent  and  protecting  divinity. 

Her  skin  grew  moist.  Great  beads  of  sweat  came  out 
on  her  forehead.  By  degrees  her  eyelids  drew  together 
and  she  slept — slept  as  sleeps  the  infant,  or  as  sleeps  some 
still  landscape  after  the  drenching  shower  has  passed. 

'MVhat  food  did  she  ask  for  yesterday?"  said  the 
leech  to  the  nurse,  who  had  just  come  in  from  another 
room.  ^'  Make  ready  the  same  for  her  against  she 
awakes. " 


THE   UNIVEUSITY.  107 

**  And  the  lady  Eacliel/^  said  Aleph,  "  will  excuse  me 
for  suggesting  that  she  ought  now  to  relieve  herself  from 
her  burden.  The  woman  will  do  quite  as  well  if  laid 
quietly  down/' 

So  Rachel  softly  disengaged  herself,  and  gently  j^laced 
the  thin,  worn,  but  now  placid  cheek  on  the  pillow.  She 
then  went  to  the  casement  and  stood  there  a  moment  re- 
flectively.    Then,  turning  to  Aleph,  she  said  : 

*^I  think  I  will  step  out  into  the  open  air,  and  per- 
haps you  will  be  kind  enough  to  follow  me.^^ 

Of  course  he  followed  her.  Such  a  vision  of  loveliness 
and  grace  as  glided  past  him  into  the  court  is  not  apt  to 
summon  even  a  philosopher  in  vain.  I  am  not  sure  but 
that  he  would  have  followed  her  to  Britain  had  she  asked 
him,  instead  of  to  that  rude  bench  in  the  farther  part  of 
the  court  where  she  seated  herself  and  invited  him  to  do 
the  same. 

She  said  that  he  must  not  wonder  that  she  wanted  to 
thank  him  for  standing  between  her  and  insult  yesterday 
at  the  synagogue — also  must  not  wonder  that  she  had  a 
woman's  curiosity  to  know  by  Avhat  means  he  had  man- 
aged to  gain  admittance  to  the  house,  and  then  to  carry 
his  point  so  fully  with  the  leech.  Would  he  ex])lain  ? 
So  he  gave  a  modest  account  of  his  dealings  with  both  the 
husband  and  the  leech  ;  and  then  smilingly  demanded 
reciprocation.  The  lady  must  not  wonder  that  he  too  had 
some  curiosity  to  know  something  of  her  experience  with 
the  same  rough  customers.  He  found  that,  as  the  leech 
had  surmised,  she  could  not  get  admittance  to  the  house 
till  she  had  sent  back  her  servants  and  had  promised  not 
to  interfere  personally  with  the  treatment.  She  was  very 
reluctant  to  do  both  things ;  but  she  felt  that  she  could 


108  THE    UNIVERSITY. 

not  desert  her  nurse  iit  such  a  time.  Besides,  she  was 
expecting  Seti,  and  encouraged  lierself  with  the  hope  of 
his  speedy  arrival.  However,  she  was  almost  afraid  to 
come  within  doors — the  man  was  so  rude  and  surly.  And 
she  did  not  fail  to  tell  what  a  weight  Avas  lifted  from  her 
mind  as  soon  as  Aleph  made  his  appearance. 

But  what  did  he  propose?  Would  not  Miriam^s  hus- 
band come  back  and  bx'eak  up  all  that  had  been  done  ? 
And  such  a  desperado  I  What  threats  !  She  trembled  to 
think  what  he  might  do.  Must  not  Aleph  be  on  his 
guard  ?  How  sorry  she  was  that  his  unselfish  efforts 
for  others  should  bring  him  into  such  iierih  !  Her  lips 
quivered,  and  she  looked  at  him  with  moist,  anxious 
eyes. 

Aleph  acknowledged  that  he  thought  the  fellow  capa- 
ble of  the  worst.  He  would  be  on  his  guard.  At  the 
same  time  he  did  not  think  that  they  need  fear  his  return. 
If  he  should  come  back  he  must  find  men  in  the  house 
able  to  control  him.  So  the  leech  and  himself  would 
remain  till  the  coming  of  Seti  ;  who  perhaps  would  ac- 
company her  home  and  return  with  two  strong  and  reso- 
lute men  to  take  their  places.  So  by  alternation  they 
must  secure  the  patient  till  she  could  be  taken  elsewhere — 
which  he  thought  would  be  very  soon.  What  did  the 
lady  think  of  the  plan  ? 

She  thought  favorably  of  it ;  and  had  no  doubt  but 
that  her  father  would  do  the  same.  But  what  trouble 
and  danger  Aleph  was  taking  on  himself  in  all  this  ! 

*^  Do  I  look  as  if  troubled  by  it?  "  said  the  young  man 
cheerfully.  "  You  see,  I  am  here  partly  for  educational 
purposes ;  and  I  consider  the  opportunities  which  may 
daily  come  to  me  for  dealing  wisely  and  helpfully  with 


THE    UNIVERSITY.  109 

men  as  so  mimy  valuable  teachers ;  and,  as  to  personal 
danger,  I  am  quite  willing  to  pay  that  price  for  my  tui- 
tion. But  pardon  me,  lady,  when  I  say  that  you  who 
leave  your  palace  for  such  a  place  as  this,  and  submit  to 
bad  air,  and  rude  treatment,  and  risk  of  health  for  the 
sake  of  a  very  humble  person  who  can  never  repay  you, 
ought  not  to  be  surprised  at  my  conduct.  I  am  compar- 
atively selfish  in  my  conduct.  In  purity  of  motive,  I 
fear  that  you  have  greatly  the  advantage  of  me.  Still  I 
hope  that  you  will  not  on  that  account  refuse  my  in- 
terested help  in  your  disinterested  work.  By  and  by, 
when  my  education  is  finished,  I  hope  my  motives  will  be 
as  unselfish  as  your  own."  He  smiled  as  he  added,  ''But 
I  should  be  sorry  to  have  you  think  that  I  am,  even  now, 
quite  without  pity  for  suffering,  and  indignation  at  in- 
justice and  wrong." 

After  a  moment's  pause,  during  which  his  face  re- 
sumed the  serene  gravity  of  expression  which  was  habit- 
ual to  it,  he  went  on  : 

*'  But,  lady,  besides  wanting  to  complete  my  educa- 
tion, I  have  another  want  in  regard  to  which  you  may 
perhaps  help  me,  and  so  amply  compensate  me  on  com- 
mercial principles  for  all  I  have  done  or  may  do  for  your 
friend.  I  am  very  much  interested  to  get  accurate  infor- 
mation from  Judea  about  Jesus.  Any  news  that  may 
reach  you  about  that  remarkable  person  will  be  to  me  like 
waters  to  a  desert.  Your  father's  position  is  such  that 
information  will  naturally  come  to  him  and  to  you." 

''  I  am  not  sure  of  that,"  returned  Rachel.  "  We  get, 
it  is  true,  a  plenty  of  rumors  and  opinions  about  Jesus  ; 
but  they  come  to  us,  I  fear,  shaped  and  colored  by  the 
strong  prejudices  and  seeming  interests  of  the  chief  peo- 


110  THE    UNIVERSITY. 

pie  of  our  nation,  who  are  mostly  hostile  to  him.  These 
are  about  the  only  ones  with  whom  my  father  is  in  com- 
munication. But  now  and  then  we  meet  with  a  man, 
like  Simeon,  who  heartily  wishes  to  know  the  truth,  what- 
ever that  may  be." 

*^*Such  was  the  impression  he  made  on  me,"  said 
Aleph. 

^'Speaking  of  him,"  said  the  maiden,  "reminds  me 
of  a  piece  of  news  which  he  brought  us  this  morning,  and 
which  my  anxiety  about  Miriam  had  almost  driven  from 
my  mind.  He  said  that  he  had  just  heard  from  a  friend 
whom  he  had  engaged  to  make  certain  inquiries  for  him 
that  in  the  birth-registers  of  Bethlehem  is  recorded  the 
birth,  some  thirty  years  ago,  of  one  Jesus,  the  son  of 
Joseph  and  Mary,  both  of  whom  are  said  to  be  descended 
from  David.  He  also  said  that  the  same  friend  reported 
some  additional  particulars  in  regard  to  the  reformer 
John,  who  made  so  great  a  stir  a  short  time  before  Jesus 
became  generally  known,  and  whom  many  for  a  time  took 
to  be  the  Christ." 

"Pray  tell  me  of  him/^  said  the  young  man,  with  a 
kindling  face,  "for  I  have  heard  absolutely  nothing.  And 
yet  the  Sacred  Books  say  that  the  Messiah  must  have  a 
forerunner  like  Elijah  in  character,  if  not  in  name.  I 
have  had  a  difficulty  here. " 

"  Perhaps,  then,  what  I  have  to  tell  may  help  you  as 
it  has  helped  me.  Simeon  learns  that  this  man,  who  for 
a  time  filled  the  eye  of  the  whole  people  and  was  then  put 
to  death  by  that  Ahab  whom  we  call  Herod,  was  exceed- 
ingly like  Elijah  in  austerity  of  life  and  fearless  denuncia- 
tion of  sin,  and  that  he  distinctly  forbade  the  j^eople  to 
count  him  more  than  the  forerunner  of  the  Christ,  and 


THE    UNIVERSITY.  Ill 

even  introduced  Jesus  to  the  people  as  being  the  Christ 
they  were  expecting.  And  this  agrees  with  the  reports 
that  reached  Alexandria  at  the  time." 

'^Many  thanks  for  this  information  ;  it  adds  another 
link  to  the  chain  of  evidence  I  am  seeking." 

'^  So  it  has  been  with  me,"  said  the  maiden,  while  a 
shade  of  deeper  thoughtfulness,  if  not  of  sadness,  came 
over  the  bewildering  beauty  of  her  face  as  she  added, 
*'and  I  begin  to  fear  that  our  chain  when  followed  to  the 
end  will  conduct  us  to  some  new  and  very  unpopular 
interpretations  of  the  prophets." 

'*^I  have  for  some  time  been  prepared  for  that,"  said 
the  young  man,  calmly  and  even  cheerfully.  "  The  great 
thing  is  to  get  at  the  truth  :  and  I  whom  you  have  suf- 
fered to  read  your  face  as  we  have  talked  together  need 
no  further  assurance  that  we  think  alike  in  this  matter. 
We  are  both  young ;  and  youth  can  accommodate  itself 
more  easily  than  age  to  new  views  if  they  must  come. 
May  Aleph,  the  Chaldean  stranger,  venture  so  largely  as 
to  hope  that  in  his  search  for  the  Messiah  he  may  still 
have  the  aid  of  one  whom  he  knows  to  be  the  first  lady  in 
the  land  in  position,  and  whom  her  grandfather,  who 
ought  to  know,  and  whom  I  am  far  from  being  disposed 
to  contradict,  pronounces  the  Gem  of  Alexandria  ?  " 

"  You  do  well  to  smile,"  said  the  maiden,  blushing. 
''  My  grandfather  is  very  poor  authority  on  such  matters. 
I  happen  to  know  that  Alexandrian  gems  are  of  very  poor 
quality  and  mostly  fictitious.  But,  seriously,  whatever  a 
Jewish  maiden  can  properly  do  to  help  in  your  matter  she 
will  gladly  do,  both  for  her  own  sake,  and  for  his  sake 
who  has  been  in  this  city,  perhaps  three  days,  and  has  as 
many  times  befriended  me  and  mine. 


yy 


112  THE   UNIVERSITY. 

Here  a  loiul  knock  was  heard  at  the  street-door.  They 
at  once  returned  to  the  sick-room— and  Aleph  went  on  to 
answer  the  knock,  hoping  to  find  Seti.  And  Seti  it  proved 
to  be.  Before  conducting  him  to  the  others,  Aleph  briefly 
and  in  a  low  voice  explained  the  situation  and  received 
the  full  approval  of  the  Egyptian.  On  entering  the  sick- 
room they  found  the  patient  awake  with  intelligence  in 
her  eye,  and  her  arm  about  the  neck  of  Rachel,  who  had 
kneeled  at  the  bedside.  The  nurse  was  standing  at  a  little 
distance  with  a  bowl  of  food. 

''  I  am  afraid  of  Antis,"  they  heard  murmured  as  they 

came  near. 

*' You  mean  your  husband?"  inquired  Rachel. 

''Yes/'  feebly  articulated  the  woman  ;  ''  he  is  a  fear- 
ful man — a  murderer.  Do  not  leave  me  with  him  " — and 
her  arms  clung  still  more  closely  about  the  fair  neck  as  if 
for  protection. 

"  He  shall  not  trouble  you  more/'  said  Seti  emphatic- 
ally, as  he  showed  himself.  ''  But  now  take  some  food," 
— and  he  beckoned  the  nurse  forward. 

Supported  by  Rachel  from  behind,  Miriam  supped 
from  a  spoon  at  intervals  with  apparent  relish,  till  at 
length  her  eyelids  again  crept  slowly  together  and  she 
was  gently  laid  back  to  her  unfinished  slumbers. 

''  She  will  do  well,  but  must  not  relapse  again,"  said 
Seti  :  and  turning  to  the  leech,  "Keep  on  as  you  have 
begun — we  will  take  the  responsibility.  I  confirm  all 
that  this  young  man  has  promised.  He  will,  I  under- 
stand, remain  with  you  till  I  can  accompany  the  lady 
home,  and  come  back  with  some  men  to  relieve  him  and 
you.  Of  course,  after  what  the  sick  woman  has  said  of 
her  husband,  we  are  justified  in  excluding  him  from  the 


THE    UNIVERSITY.  113 

house.     Do  not  allow  liiiii  to  enter  under  any  pretense. 
If  he  insists,  threaten  him  with  the  police."^ 

As  Aleph  put  up  the  bars  of  the  street-door  behind 
Eachel  and  her  escort,  he  felt  as  if  he  were  barring  out  a 
sunbeam.  There  is  nothing  like  a  human  face  of  the 
diviner  type  to  light  up  a  poor  and  dark  house.  Aleph 
did  not  realize  how  poor  and  dark  that  sick  house  was  in 
itself  till  Rachel  had  left  it  and  he  had  again  placed  him- 
self at  the  bedside.  Here  he  sat  for  quite  a  time  lost  in 
thought  till,  suddenly,  he  became  aware  that  Miriam  was 
awake  and  with  wide  eyes  of  placid  wonder  was  gazing  at 
him.  At  a  sign  from  him  the  nurse  came  forward  with 
more  food  and  drink,  supported  her  while  he  gently  put 
to  her  lips  at  intervals  a  little  of  both,  and  then  gently 
laid  her  down,  her  drooping  eyes  still  seeking  his  face,  to 
renewed  slumber.  This  occurred  again  before  Seti  ap- 
peared with  three  strong  and  resolute  looking  men — who 
being  old  servants  of  Alexander  and  well  known  to  Miriam 
in  former  days,  were  thought  most  likely  to  give  her  a 
sense  of  security  by  their  presence. 

Seti  and  Aleph  returned  to  Rachotis  together. 

They  had  scarcely  turned  away  from  the  house  before 
Antis  came  out  from  a  recess  across  the  street  and  stole 
after  them — at  a  distance,  but  so  as  to  keep  them  in  sight. 
And  they  were  not  without  particular  notice  from  others. 
Two  such  commanding  figures  as  to  stature  and  bearing 
were  not  a  common  sight  in  Alexandria ;  and  so  the  men 
whom  they  met  would  sometimes  turn  and  gaze  after 
them.  One  of  these  did  more  than  stop  and  gaze.  He 
followed — followed  on  one  side  of  the  street  as  Antis  was 
following  on  the  other. 

I  wonder  what  he  meant!     Was  he  a  friend  or  an 


114  THE    UJSriVEKSITY. 

enemy?  Or  was  it  merely  idleness  and  curiosity  that 
prompted  the  following  ? 

These  latter  make  a  motor  of  considerable  jiovver ; 
sometimes  even  of  fully  as  much  power  as  any  of  our  cele- 
brated modern  motors,  or  those  mysterious  ones  used  in 
the  construction  of  the  jiyramids.  And  it  certainly  was 
in  daily  use  in  Egypt  among  all  classes  at  the  time  of  our 
narrative,  and  long  before.  Before  the  Ptolemies,  before 
the  Pharaohs,  before  the  Dispersion,  before  Tubal  Cain — 
in  fact  there  is  some  reason  to  think  that  this  motor  was 
invented  by  the  first  man  (some  say  by  the  first  woman  ; 
but  this  is  a  base  slander),  and  was  from  him  handed  down 
to  all  ages  and  countries.  How  else  can  we  account  for 
its  omnipresence  ! 

So  it  is  by  no  means  incredible  that  the  following  of 
Aleph  just  spoken  of  was  not  due  to  hostility.  I  hope  it 
was  not.  I  hope  it  did  not  mean  mischief.  Still  I  con- 
fess to  some  fears.  Somehow  I  begin  to  feel  an  interest 
in  that  young  man  ;  and  if  any  harm  should  come  to  him 
it  would  trouble  me  not  a  little. 


VI. 

THE    CUSTOM    HOUSE. 

OvK  ola  fSovXeTai  tic,  a^^'  ola  dvvaTai. 

Plato,  Nipp.  Mag.  26. 

Hot  what  one  wishes,  but  what  he  can. 


1.  News  ^^y  thie  w^ay. 

2.  A.  commercial  catectiism. 

3.  F*ytlnon  wide  awaU:e. 

4.  No  time  to  be  lost. 


VI. 

THE  CUSTOM  HOUSE, 

A  LEPH  found  Cimon  already  at  the  khan ;  anof^  after 
-'L\.  giving  an  account  of  his  own  experiences,  received 
the  following  from  his  friend. 

Cimon  went  first  to  the  khan  they  had  just  left  for  an 
article  that  had  been  forgotten,  and  to  learn  what  he 
might  of  the  ways  of  the  neighboring  custom  house. 

He  found  that  he  was  yet  considerably  too  early  for 
the  business  hours  of  the  chief  official ;  and  so  lingered, 
making  inquiries  of  the  inn-keeper  about  the  chief  trad- 
ers of  the  city,  especially  in  the  line  of  eastern  goods. 
Who  are  they?  AVhere  are  their  places  of  business? 
How  long  have  they  been  established?  What  reputations 
do  they  bear?  These  questions  were  freely  answered — 
with  some  vagueness  and  reserve,  however,  as  to  the  last 
of  them ;  as  was  to  be  expected  from  a  man  who  speaks 
about  his  neighbors  to  a  stranger.  Cimon  found  that 
Malus  was  by  far  the  largest  and  most  successful  dealer 
in  the  city. 

How  did  that  happen?  " 

Well,  you  see,  he  has  the  most  capital :  so  he  has 
the  best  goods,  the  cheapest,  and  the  greatest  variety; 
and  then  his  positions  as  harbor-master  and  farmer-gen- 
eral of  all  imports  from  the  south  give  him  special  ad- 


(C 


118  THE   CUSTOM   HOUSE. 

vantages  for  turning  trade  in  his  own  direction.  As 
harbor-master  he  is  the  first  one  to  meet  the  owners  of 
goods  on  their  arrival,  and  can  hasten  or  delay  the  pass- 
ing through  the  custom  house :  as  farmer  of  the  duties 
he  has  less  duty  to  pay  than  his  rivals,  even  if  he  makes 
none  of  the  illegal  exactions  with  which  some  charge 
him.  However  this  may  be,  it  is  certain  that  he  has 
very  great  opportunities  of  befriending  those  who  deal 
with  him,  and  can  make  it  for  their  interest  to  patronize 
him  rather  than  others.  People  lay  much  stress  on  this. 
So  he  has  crushed  out  many  small  dealers.  Still,  not  a 
few  manage  to  maintain  ^themselves  against  him,  though 
they  make  small  profits  where  he  makes  large  ones. 
There  are  yet  many  people  who  for  various  reasons  prefer 
to  go  elsewhere  than  to  Nos.  110,  111,  112  Emporium 
Street.  We  are  among  them  '^ — and  the  man  shrugged 
his  shoulders. 

Cimon  took  out  his  tablets  and  made  some  entries. 

While  he  was  doing  this,  who  should  come  in  but  the 
Jew  who  had  so  curiously  followed  him  from  the  syna- 
gogue! The  man  was  surprised,  and  apparently  de- 
lighted, to  see  Cimon.  It  appeared  that  he  was  a  brother 
of  the  absent  landlord,  and  had  come  to  bring  news  of 
him  to  his  family.  He  had  left  him  in  Judea  a  few  days 
before,  and  expected  that  he  would  soon  be  able  to  re- 
turn. He  then  turned  to  Cimon  and  inquired  about  his 
young  companion  of  yesterday. 

'*  That  young  man  haunts  me,''  he  said.  "  His  face 
meets  me  everywhere ;  if  I  read,  his  features  come  be- 
tween me  and  the  papyrus ;  if  some  one  enters  my  house 
I  look  up  to  see  if  it  is  not  he ;  if  I  am  walking  in  the 
street  I  forget  my  errand  and  look  for  him  instead.     For 


THE   CUSTOM    HOUSE.  119 

example,  while  on  my  way  here  I  forgot  what  I  was 
coming  for,  and  found  myself  opposite  the  Diapleuston 
waiting  for  him  to  appear,  and,  had  he  appeared,  no 
doubt  I  should  have  acted  as  ridiculously  as  I  did  yes- 
terday." 

Cimon  explained  that  they  had  seen  occasion  to  re- 
move to  another  part  of  the  city;  but  were  still  proposing 
to  seek  him  out  and  hear  about  the  eastern  pilgrims  of 
whom  he  had  spoken.  Perhaps  he  would  not  object  to 
give  some  particulars  now — reserving  to  some  future 
time,  when  his  young  friend  could  be  with  him,  a  fuller 
account.  Could  they  not  pass  into  the  court  and  seat 
themselves  where  they  would  not  be  exposed  to  interrup- 
tion? 

The  Jew  readily  consented:  and  this  was  the  sub- 
stance of  his  narrative. 

When  he  was  scarcely  more  than  a  boy  there  came  to 
the  khan  on  the  east  of  the  city,  then  kept  by  his  father, 
a  large  caravan  of  eastern  people,  on  their  way  home 
from  Judea.  It  was  led  by  three  men — all  remarkable 
for  dignity  of  manner,  richness  of  apparel,  and  other 
signs  of  great  distinction,  if  not  of  princely  rank.  Two 
of  them  were  old  men;  but  old  after  the  manner  of 
Moses.  Their  eyes  were  as  bright,  their  forms  as  erect, 
their  steps  as  firm  and  elastic  as  one  ever  sees  in  the 
young.  But  the  third  was  comparatively  young:  and  a 
finer  specimen  of  humanity  in  all  respects  the  khaa  had 
never  seen,  though  it  had  seen,  first  and  last,  a  wide 
variety  of  people  from  all  nations. 

Ah,  that  young  man  knew  how  to  walk — how  to 
ride  too !  AVhen  he  came  and  went,  whether  on  foot  or 
on  his  Arabian,  the  servants  would  run  to  every  conven- 


120  THE    CUSTOM   HOUSE. 

lent  outlook  to  wonder  at  the  easy  grace  and  majesty  of 
his  movements. 

On  tlie  arrival  of  the  caravan  the  khan  happened 
to  be  quite  without  guests.  The  pilgrims  at  once  took 
all  the  vacant  rooms,  and  remained  several  days  in  the 
city — examining  it  fully  in  every  direction ;  its  temples, 
palaces,  harbors,  markets,  warehouses,  manufactures,  li- 
braries, schools.  They  evidently  were  very  devout  per- 
sons ;  not  as  the  idolaters  are,  but  after  the  Hebrew  man- 
ner. Every  morning  and  evening  they  gathered  all  their 
servants,  and  read  from  copies  of  the  Law  and  Prophets, 
and  prayed  most  reverently  to  the  Invisible ;  and  on  the 
Sabbath  they  went  separately  to  the  synagogues;  and 
when  they  left  the  city  they  carried  away  with  them 
many  copies  of  the  Greek  Scriptures — also,  it  was  said,  a 
Greek  young  man,  well  taught  in  all  the  western  learn- 
ing and  accomplishments,  but  who  had  lost  his  parents 
and  other  near  relatives,  and  so  had  few  ties  to  detain 
him  here.  This  was  what  was  said:  the  Jew  could  not 
vouch  for  it,  as  he  had  never  seen  the  young  Greek. 

But  these  were  not  the  most  important  facts  about 
the  pilgrims.  Some  in  the  caravan  spoke  the  Greek  lan- 
guage and  the  people  of  the  inn  used  to  listen  with  won- 
der to  the  story  that  gradually  came  to  them. 

For  generations  it  had  been  widely  understood  in 
parts  of  the  East  that  a  great  king  would  some  day  ap- 
pear in  Judea  in  whom  all  the  families  of  the  earth 
would  be  blessed.  But  lately  it  was  revealed  to  each  of 
the  three  chiefs  that  the  birth  of  this  king  was  about  to 
take  place,  and  that  when  it  had  taken  place  the  fact 
would  be  signified  to  them  by  the  appearance  of  a  new 
star-like  body  in  the  western  sky,  and  that  on  seeing  it 


THE  CUSTOM   HOUSE.  121 

they  should  journey  westward  to  carry  the  homage  and 
presents  of  the  East  to  the  new-born  monarch.  So  they 
conferred  together,  made  ready  their  caravans,  and 
watched  the  heavens  nightly  for  the  promised  sign. 

At  last  it  came.  The  day  had  faded  away  into  the 
night,  when  lo,  a  glorious  beam  shot  to  the  watchers, 
and  they  saw  a  great  star  hanging  low  in  the  west — a  star 
wholly  unlike  the  evening  star,  or  any  other  star  ever 
seen  in  that  quarter  of  the  sky.  The  signal  was 
promptly  and  joyfully  obeyed.  Meeting  at  a  place  be- 
fore agreed  upon,  the  chiefs  joined  caravans  and  pro- 
ceeded toward  Judea — the  star  appearing  and  going  be- 
fore them  whenever  their  journey  needed  special  guid- 
ance. So  at  last  they  came  to  Bethlehem,  where  the 
meteor  sank  low  and  blazed  over  the  house  where  a  young 
child  was.  Then  they  knew  that  they  had  found  the 
King ;  though  it  was  in  no  palace,  but  in  a  very  humble 
home  bare  of  all  but  the  barest  necessaries. 

Was  it  a  beautiful  child?  Even  as  Moses,  exceeding 
fair.  Was  he  afraid  of  the  bearded  men  as  t'hey  kneeled 
before  him  and  presented  their  gold  and  frankincense 
and  myrrh?  Not  at  all.  There  were  the  dawnings  of  a 
kingly  repose  and  welcome  in  his  eyes  as  he  fearlessly 
stretched  out  his  little  hand  and  laid  it  on  the  thin  white 
hairs  and  on  the  dense  brown  locks  that  were  successively 
bowed  low  before  him. 

And  then  they  heard  of  things  even  stranger  than 
those  they  had  themselves  experienced.  For  the  mother 
told  them  of  angels  who  came  to  predict  the  Messiah 
and  his  forerunner :  and  many  people  of  Bethlehem,  at- 
tracted by  the  star  and  the  stately  caravan,  came  hasten- 
ing up  and  told  how  their  shepherds  had  seen  and  heard 


122  THE   CUSTOM   HOUSE. 

on  the  night  of  the  Birth  a  glory  of  angels  that  shone  and 
sang  above  them  like  a  descending  heaven,  and  sent  them 
to  a  manger  to  find  their  long  expected  King. 

The  youngest  of  the  three  chiefs  was  so  much  im- 
pressed by  the  story  of  the  shepherds  that  he  put  it  into 
a  song  which  some  in  the  caravan  learned  and  often 
chanted. 

*'  Did  you  hear  it?''  interrupted  Cimon. 

"Yes:  and  our  father  would  have  us  commit  it  to 
memory.  I  think  that  even  now  I  can  recite  it  word  for 
word." 

"  Please  do  so." 

The  Jew,  after  a  few  moments  of  recollection,  pro- 
ceeded to  recite  as  follows : 

*'  No  tongue  can  tell  the  sacred  pomp, 

That  swept  from  Heaven  one  day, 
And  trailed  its  glory  past  the  spheres, 

To  where  the  Infant  lay — 
Lift  up  your  eyes  in  vast  surprise, 

Ye  shepherds,  on  the  scene, 
And  see  the  flaming  forms  that  hang, 

The  heavens  and  earth  between  I 

Upon  their  heads  are  golden  crowns. 

Their  robes  are  white  as  snow, 
Soft  lightnings  from  their  faces  flash 

Upon  the  vale  below; 
Before  the  glory  of  the  Lord 

The  stars  turn  pale  and  flee — 
Oh,  what  a  sight  that  gracious  night 

For  shepherd  swains  to  see  I 

Through  all  the  still  and  scented  air 

There  comes  a  deeper  calm, 
As  if  from  fear  lest  it  should  hear 

Naught  of  the  coming  psalm : 


THE   CUSTOM   HOUSE.  123 

t 

And  now  the  air  grows  sweeter  still ; 

Slow  beat  the  balmy  wings ; 
Clear  o'er  the  mute  and  raptured  earth 

The  choir  of  angels  sings. 

Sings  praises  in  the  highest  song 

That  highest  Heaven  can  raise; 
Sings  praises  to  the  highest  king 

That  hears  the  voice  of  praise ; 
To  Him  who  to  the  earth  descends 

In  pity  and  in  love, 
And  o'er  its  warring  tribes  extends 

The  white  wings  of  the  dove. 

And  far  across  Judean  hills, 

Swell  out  the  storms  of  praise — 
I  would  that  tempests  such  as  this 

Might  gladden  all  my  days! 
For  lo,  'tis  Paradise  to  hear 

The  glory  of  that  sound. 
That  swells  so  grandly  to  the  skies, 

So  humbly  seeks  the  ground. 

Full  many  an  age  will  vanish, 

Full  many  songs  be  given, 
But  ne'er  again  such  wondrous  strain 

Will  shake  the  arch  of  Heaven ; 
And  yet  each  year  our  hearts  will  see 

A  glory  on  the  wing, 
And  still  each  year  our  hearts  will  hear 

That  winged  glory  sing. 

And  ever  as  we  give  our  gifts, 

And  deck  our  homes  with  green. 
Our  souls  will  kindle  in  the  blaze 

Of  that  strange  midnight  scene. 
And  sing  His  praise  in  joyful  lays, 

By  whom  the  Child  was  given. 
Whose  advent  here  sent  mighty  cheer 

Through  all  the  choirs  of  Heaven." 


124  TUE   CUSTOM    HOUSE. 

There  were  tremblings  on  the  tongue  of  the  Jew  as 
he  closed  his  low  chiint,  and  tears  in  the  eyes  of  the 
Greek ;  but  the  latter  said  nothing  for  a  few  moments, 
and  then  merely  asked  that  the  narrative  might  proceed. 
So  the  Jew  resumed. 

The  chiefs  would  willingly  have  lingered  long  in 
Bethlehem ;  but  the  same  Divine  Word  that  had  brought 
them  almost  immediately  sent  them  away.  The  next 
night  the  message  came,  "  Let  them  return— and  return 
by  another  way."     So  they  returned  by  way  of  Egypt  and 

the  Red  Sea. 

•  Shortly  after  the  pilgrims  had  left  Alexandria,  news 
came  that  Herod,  in  a  fit  of  jealousy,  had  massacred  all 
the  male  children  in  Bethlehem  under  two  years  of  age. 
It  was  like  him.  Everybody  believed  the  story.  But 
could  it  be  that  the  Messiah  of  whose  triumphs  and  reign 
so  many  prophets,  in  so  many  ways,  had  spoken,  had 
perished  in  his  infancy?  Could  the  promises  of  God  be 
broken  by  the  cruelty  of  man?  Was  Herod  strong 
enough  to  defeat  the  Almighty? 

The  khan  had  hardly  begun  to  ask  these  questions 
before  there  appeared  at  its  gate  a  man  leading  an  ass,  on 
which  was  seated  a  young  woman  who  carried  in  her 
arms  a  little  boy.  The  mother  was  interesting — the  boy 
was  wonderful.  Never  had  the  landlord  seen  such  a 
child.  It  was  not  merely  that  he  was  comely  in  the 
highest  degree — it  was  the  mystery  of  expression  in  his 
face.  As  one  looked  on  it  nothing  seemed  too  good  or 
great  to  be  believed  of  him.  His  body  seemed  a  thin  veil 
through  which  flashes  of  inexhaustible  treasures  of  wis- 
dom and  goodness  and  power  were  continually  strug- 
gling.    You  who  have  seen  a  light  shining  through  thin 


THE   CUSTOM   HOUSE.  125 

alabaster— you  who  have  seen  a  gem  in  whose  heart  rain- 
bows seemed  imprisoned — you  who  have  seen  a  soft, 
white  cloud  around  whose  edges  have  crept  suggestions 
of  an  intolerable  glory  within  and  behind,  can  have  some 
idea  of  how  that  wonderful  Child  impressed  the  people  of 
the  khan.  By  degrees  they  learned  that  the  family  had 
come  from  Bethlehem,  that  fear  of  Herod  was  the  cause 
of  their  leaving,  that  the  eastern  princes  had  been  under 
their  roof — at  last,  when  confidence  was  full-grown  and 
all  reserve  thrown  away,  that  they  had  among  them  the 
very  Star-Child  to  which  the  journeying  East  had 
brought  its  loyal  homage  and  tribute. 

It  was  strange  to  see  the  mixture  of  tenderness  and 
awe  with  which  the  mother  dealt  with  her  son — strange 
to  see  the  mixture  of  weakness  and  power,  of  humbleness 
and  superiority,  of  dependence  and  independence  with 
which  the  son  dealt  with  his  mother.  At  one  moment  it 
seemed  as  if  she  was  acting  the  part  of  a  Providence  t© 
him ;  at  another  as  if  he  was  acting  the  part  of  a  Provi- 
dence to  her. 

The  house  was  a  different  house  from  the  time  that 
Jesus  (for  such  was  his  name)  entered  it.  A  new  ele- 
ment had  come  into  its  air ;  a  new  light  seemed  to  rest 
on  every  object ;  never  had  its  inmates  found  it  so  easy 
to  pray  and  lead  a  good  life.  It  was  as  if  a  new  life  had 
silently  come  under  their  own ;  and,  like  a  broad  wave, 
was  lifting  it  heavenward.  The  eyes  of  Jesus,  from  their 
fathomless  depths,  seemed  to  invite  to  all  that  was  holy 
and  to  forbid  all  that  was  sinful. 

But  even  Alexandria  was  too  near  Herod.  So,  after 
the  sacred  family  had  well  rested  from  their  journey, 
they  went  still  farther  south.     It  was  a  sad  day  for  the 


126  THE   CUSTOM    HOUSE. 

khan  when  they  went  away.  The  host  would  take  notli- 
ing  in  the  way  of  compensation — save  a  smile  from  the 
young  mother  and  a  touch  from  the  child  for  each  child 
of  his.  How  that  touch  thrilled  them  through  and 
through  as  with  some  mysterious  healing !  They  think 
they  can  feel  it  to-day. 

The  khan  kept  its  secret.  After  a  while  news 
came  that  the  Holy  Family  went  as  far  as  Mantareeh^ 
and  remained  there  till  the  death  of  Ilerod,  when  they 
returned  to  their  own  country.  After  that,  ears  were 
kept  wide-open  toward  Judea;  for  it  could  not  be 
thought  that  such  a  beginning  would  end  in  nothing — 
that  man  and  circumstance  would  be  allowed  to  defeat 
God. 

But  the  waiting  was  long.  Ten  years  passed, 
twenty  years,  almost  thirty,  and  yet  no  further  news 
came  of  Jesus.  The  khan  was  sorely  puzzled.  It  knew 
not  what  to  think.  Yet  it  still  clung  to  faith  and  hope. 
At  last  it  began  to  hear  vaguely  of  strange  excitements 
and  movements  in  Judea.  The  eyes  and  ears  of  the 
whole  family  turned  in  that  direction  as  never  before. 
And  soon  they  learned  that  a  great  reformer  had  burst 
suddenly  on  the  people  from  the  wilderness — austere, 
fearless,  mighty  of  speech,  smiting  the  sins  of  high  and 
low  with  the  sword  of  his  mouth,  baptizing,  followed  by 
immense  crowds,  who  inquired.  Is  not  this  the  Christ? 

And  this,  too,  was  the  question  that  was  asked  at 
the  gate  of  Canopus.  But  they  reflected  that,  according 
to  the  prophets,  Christ  must  have  a  forerunner  of  just 
this  Elijah-like  character ;  and  so  they  were  prepared  to 
hear,  as  they  soon  did,  that  the  reformer's  name  was 
John  the  son  of  Zacharias,  and  that  he  distinctly  told 


THE   CUSTOM   HOUSE.  127 

the  people  that  he  was  not  the  Christ,  only  his  forerun- 
ner. Then  came  rumors  of  Another  ;  at  first  low-voiced 
and  vague,  then  more  distinct  and  emphatic — that  John 
had  introduced  him  to  the  people  as  the  Greater  One  for 
whom  he  had  been  preparing  the  way ;  then  that  John 
himself  had  been  slain  by  Herod;  then  that  the  new 
prophet  whose  name  was  Jesus  was  drawing  the  multi- 
tudes after  him  by  a  sublime  teaching  and  a  course  of 
miracles  such  as  had  not  been  seen  since  the  days  of 
Moses,  if  ever.  Of  course  the  Alexandrian  friends  then 
felt  sure  that  they  had  recovered  the  long  lost  Child. 
The  king  of  whom  they  had  heard  from  the  Chaldean 
sages,  whose  star  had  conducted  that  most  memorable  of 
all  pilgrimages,  and  whose  sublime  childhood  they  had 
been  permitted  to  look  in  upon,  as  by  a  window  into 
heaven,  was  now  being  manifested  to  the  nation  at  large. 
And  though  he  had  not  come  in  the  way  the  nation  at 
large  was  expecting — was  appearing  as  a  king  of  wisdom 
and  mercies,  instead  of  as  a  king  of  battles  and  conquests 
— they  felt  sure  that  at  last  the  Messiah  had  come  to  his 
own ;  and  that,  beyond  all  doubt,  Jesus  was  he.  In  the 
joy  of  this  great  conviction  the  father  died. 

Such,  in  substance,  though  not  in  words,  was.  the  nar- 
rative of  the  Jew.  As  he  proceeded  in  it  he  gradually 
came  to  speak  with  profound  emotion.  He  ended  with  a 
voice  that  trembled  and  eyes  that  wept.  Cimon  was 
hardly  less  moved.  They  sat  for  a  few  moments  in  si- 
lence.    Then  Cimon  said : 

''  This  has  been  the  fairest  of  mornings  to  me. 
Though  a  Greek  by  birth,  I  am  a  Hebrew  in  faith  and 
expectations ;  and  never  did  David  so  long  for  the  waters 
of  Bethlehem  as  I  have  longed  for  news  of  that  Son  of 


128  THE   CUSTOM   HOUSE. 

David  and  of  Bethleliem,  your  Messiah.  I  say  your  Mes- 
siah ;  but  I  have  reason  to  think  that  he  is  mine  also ; 
even  to  think  that  he  belongs  to  all  nations.  Sometimes, 
perhaps,  when  my  young  friend  is  with  me  I  will  explain 
further.  But  I  may  now  say  that,  from  what  you  have 
just  told  me,  and  from  what  I  knew  before,  I  am  satis- 
fied that  the  Christ  has  at  last  come  and  that  Jesus  is  he. 
God  be  praised!  Some  difficulties  still  remain,  and  per- 
haps will  always  remain.  Hard  questions,  questions  that 
I  cannot  answer,  stare  at  me  out  of  the  night.  And  yet, 
God  be  praised!     The  King  has  at  last  come.'* 

The  Jew  grasped  the  hand  of  the  Greek  and  mur- 
mured Brother. 

**Let  me  tell  you  another  thing,"  the  Jew  added, 
after  a  moment.  "I  have  seen  him.  Yes,  I  have  seen 
Jesus  and  recognized  in  the  full-grown  man  the  unutter- 
able something  that  spoke  so  powerfully  to  us  in  the 
child." 

*'  When  and  where?"   demanded  the  other. 

"  Not  in  dreams,  though  I  scarcely  dream  of  anything 
else,  but  with  these  bodily  eyes.  You  see  that,  as  news 
of  the  wonderful  doings  in  Judea  thickened  upon  us,  I 
became  too  restless  to  remain  quietly  here  while  the 
world  was  being  shaken  only  a  few  days'  journey  away. 
My  brother,  who  long  before  the  death  of  our  father  had 
taken  this  khan,  felt  very  much  as  I  did;  and  so  we 
agreed  to  go  together  and  see  for  ourselves,  instead  of 
having  the  facts  filtered  to  us  through  the  imaginations 
and  prejudices,  it  may  be,  of  other  people.  Accordingly 
we  went ;  and  not  only  recognized  him,  as  I  have  said, 
but  were  at  once  recognized  by  him  and  called  by  our 
names.     None  of  our  acquaintances  were  about  him,  we 


THE   CUSTOM   HOUSE.  129 

knew  not  a  soul  in  Capernaum,  and  yet,  as  soon  as  he 
saw  us,  he  said  '  Shaphan  and  Nathan,  sons  of  Reuben, 
welcome.'  ....  AVe  were  with  him  se\eral  days  and 
heard  him  teach  the  people  as  surely  people  were  never 
before  taught.  We  said,  as  did  his  other  hearers.  Never 
man  spake  like  this  man.  And  then  the  things  that  he 
did !  Oh,  it  was  good  and  yet  awful  to  be  there !  How 
mightily  and  easily  he  did  things  which  God  alone  can 
do!  We  saw  lepers  white  as  snow  turned  into  sound 
men  at  his  simple  word:  also  one  man  who  had  lost  a 
hand  had  it  instantaneously  restored  in  our  presence.  In 
passing  through  the  country  we  met  many  who  testified 
that  they  had  been  cured  by  him  of  the  worst  forms  of 
disease  in  their  last  stages— cured  in  a  moment,  and 
without  the  use  of  any  natural  means  whatever.  Indeed, 
the  land  is  full  of  such  cases,  so  that  not  even  the  worst 
enemies  of  Jesus  pretend  to  doubt  his  miraculous 
powers.'' 

"  Tell  me  of  the  man  whose  hand  was  restored,"  said 
Cimon. 

"A  company  of  us  were  passing  through  a  street  when 
some  blind  men  met  us  and  cried  to  Jesus  for  help.  We 
halted  just  before  a  butcher's  stall  where  a  man  was  di- 
viding some  meat  with  a  cleaver.  Another  man  and  my- 
self were  pressed  by  the  crowd  close  to  the  block  where 
the  work  was  being  done.  In  his  anxiety  to  see  Jesus 
deal  with  the  blind  men,  my  neighbor  laid  his  hand  on 
the  block  suddenly,  for  the  purpose  of  raising  himself 
somewhat  to  get  a  better  view,  when  the  cleaver  de- 
scended and  struck  off  his  entire  hand.  The  blood 
spouted.  A  great  outcry  was  made,  and  Jesus  came  up. 
He  calmly  said  to  the  maimed  man  as  he  held  up  the 


130  THE    CUSTOM    HOUSE. 

bleeding  stump.  Be  tohole :  and  at  once  I  saw  a  new  hand 
occupying  the  place  of  the  old.  The  wliole  crowd,  as 
well  as  myself,  carefully  inspected  the  substitute  and 
compared  it  with  the  original  hand  that  still  lay  on  the 

block." 

**  Missing  limbs  are  not  suddenly  reproduced  by 
human  art,"  said  Cimon. 

"  I  am  tempted  to  mention  another  matter  more  per- 
sonal to  myself,"  continued  Shaphan.  "  I  have  already 
said  that  Jesus  called  us  by  our  names.  We  found  the 
next  day  that  he  knew  more  about  us  than  our  names. 
As  my  brother  and  myself  were  sitting  by  the  wayside, 
Jesus  came  to  us  and  said: 

*''You  are  troubled.  When  you  reach  home  look 
again  for  the  missing  document  and  you  will  find  it.' 

"And  truly  we  were  in  trouble.  AVhen  we  were  chil- 
dren our  father  was  in  partnership  with  a  young  man. 
But  this  young  man  gradually  drew  off  into  other  busi- 
ness, and  at  length  sold  his  interest  in  the  khan  to  my 
father,  who  paid  him  for  it  in  full  and  took  from  him  a 
paper  acknowledging  the  fact.  In  process  of  time  this 
paper  was  lost.  Of  late  this  loss  has  somehow  come  to 
the  knowledge  of  the  man,  and  he  now  claims  that  he 
has  never  received  payment,  and  demands  both  the  prin- 
cipal and  the  interest  on  it  for  more  than  thirty  years. 
To  pay  this  sum  would  ruin  us.  We  had  been  again  and 
again  to  our  oppressor  to  ask  for  mercy.  But  in  vain. 
So  we  luere  in  deep  waters  when  Jesus  put  out  his  hand 
and  drew  us  out.  For  since  my  return  I  have  found  the 
missing  paper." 

Who  is  this  oppressor?" 
Malus." 


n 
ii 


THE   CUSTOM   HOUSE.  131 


Has  he  already  begun  a  suit  against  you? " 

No :  but  he  threatens  to  do  so  within  a  short  time, 
unless  payment  is  made." 

"  Can  it  be  that  he  is  honest,  and  has  merely  for- 
gotten?" 

"  He  does  not  say  that  he  does  not  rememher  having  re- 
ceived the  money.  He  absolutely  denies  having  received 
it — could  make  oath  to  that  effect ;  has  a  perfect  recollec- 
tion of  all  the  circumstances,  and  has  only  been  pre- 
vented from  pressing  his  claim  during  all  these  years  by 
tenderness  of  heart." 

**  Have  you  yet  told  him  of  the  discovery?  ^'' 

Not  yet." 

Would  you  be  willing  to  withhold  the  news  from 
him  for  a  while?  " 

If  you  wish." 

I  wish  you  would :  and  perhaps  we  may  be  of  ser- 
vice in  helping  you  bring  this  crafty  and  powerful  rogue 
to  justice.  But  it  will  be  a  hard  matter.  My  fear  is 
that  the  officials  of  the  city  are  themselves  in  league  with 
him  in  some  of  his  practices,  and  so  will  be  disposed  to 
shelter  him  in  all But  this  speaking  of  Mains  re- 
minds me  of  a  matter  that  I  must  now  attend  to." 

Cimon  rose.  It  was  time  to  proceed  to  the  custom 
house.  So,  promising  Shaphan  to  see  him  again  as  soon 
as  possible :  also  informing  him  more  particularly  where 
they  now  lodged,  in  case  he  should  have  occasion  to  seek 
them  ("and,"  said  he,  "I  hope  that  your  brother  will 
soon  make  occasion  by  bringing  further  particulars  about 
Jesus"),  he  took  leave  cordially. 

The  lake  frontage  was,  and  had  long  been,  all  alive 
with  business.     The  cry  of  all  nations  was  in  the  air. 


132  THE   CUSTOM    HOUSE. 

Ill  the  lake  itself  vessels  of  all  sorts  were  coming  and  go- 
ing ;  on  tlie  wharves  boxes,  bales,  sacks  were  being  han- 
dled with  the  same  dispatch  and  carelessness  that  men 
now  show  in  handling  the  goods  of  other  people.  Also, 
the  custom  house  itself  (a  long,  low  building  extending 
almost  from  the  Gate  of  the  Moon  to  the  canal  which 
joined  the  lake  to  the  northern  harbors)  was  in  full  swirl 
and  roar,  and  had  been  for  hours.  But  the  chief  official, 
like  people  of  his  sort  in  more  modern  times,  did  not 
make  as  early  hours  as  his  subordinates;  had  loitered 
over  the  morning  meal  and  news,  though  not  newspaper ; 
and  so  had  only  just  made  himself  comfortable  in  his  of- 
fice when  Cimon  presented  himself — the  first  visitor. 

The  Roman  looked  up  from  his  tablets  on  which  he 
had  been  writing;  and,  seeing  before  him  a  very  well 
dressed  and  dignified  person,  laid  down  his  stylus  and 
took  an  attitude  of  attention. 

Cimon  stated  that  he  had  waited  on  the  chief  of  the 
customs  in  behalf  of  an  eminent  trader,  to  make  certain 
inquiries  which  could  not  be  so  satisfactorily  put  to  lower 
officials.     Would  it  suit  his  convenience  to  hear  them? 

"  What  are  they?^'  said  the  chief  politely. 

"If  my  principal  were  to  send  here  a  lot  of  eastern 
good  (silks,  shawls,  rugs,  jewels),  what  duties  would  he 
have  to  pay?" 

The  Roman  took  down  from  a  shelf  a  framed  sched- 
ule and  read  from  it  certain  figures.  He  looked  up. 
The  Greek  was  making  a  memorandum. 

When  he  had  finished,  Cimon  asked,  "  Can  these 
rates  be  relied  on  for  some  time  to  come?  " 

"Doubtless:  they  have  not  been  changed  since  the 
times  of  the  Ptolemies." 


THE   CUSTOM   HOUSE.  133 

Cimon  made  another  entry  on  his  tablets. 

**  Can  you  give  me  some  idea  what  the  course  of  trade 
has  been  in  these  eastern  goods — what  its  annual  amount, 
whether  subject  to  fluctuations,  whether  on  the  whole 
increasing  or  decreasing?^' 

**  I  cannot/'  said  the  official.  '*  To  do  this  would 
require  much  time  and  labor  in  examining  the  registers." 

*'  Then  you  register  all  lots  of  goods  that  come  to 
you,  and  preserve  the  registers?  '' 

"  Certainly.  We  preserve  them  till  they  become  too 
many  for  preservation." 

*'  May  I  ask  how  long  that  is?  " 

* 'About  fifteen  years.  At  all  events,  we  have  the  reg- 
istry books  for  the  last  fifteen  years." 

Cimon  made  another  entry,  and  then  asked  whether 
one  willing  to  expend  the  time  and  labor  would  be  al- 
lowed to  examine  the  books,  and  if  so  on  what  terms. 

After  some  hesitation  the  official  replied  that  the 
theory  was  that  the  books  should  be  open  to  the  inspec- 
tion of  suitable  persons,  but  that  there  were  practical 
difficulties  in  the  way. 

"  For  example,"  said  he,  *'  the  books  of  this  year  are 
in  constant  use  for  record  and  consultation  by  the  offi- 
cers of  the  custom  house ;  the  books  of  previous  years  are 
often  needed  by  them  for  reference ;  and  then,  of  course, 
an  examination  of  the  books  by  outside  parties  would 
have  to  be  made  in  the  presence  of  an  official,  and  all  the 
officials  we  now  have  are  fully  occupied  with  other  duties 
from  which  they  cannot  well  be  spared ;  and  one  spe- 
cially appointed  would  be  expensive,  if  permissible." 

Cimon  said  that  he  was  ready  to  charge  himself  with 
all  expenses. 


134  THE   CUSTOM   HOUSE. 

The  Iioniaii  hastened  to  say  that  even  in  that  case  an 
express  permit  from  the  prefect  of  the  city,  possibly 
from  the  Governor,  might  be  necessary.  He  would  make 
inquiry,  and,  perhaps,  would  be  able  to  inform  him 
within  a  day  or  two. 

The  Greek  bowed.  Meanwhile  would  the  chief  look 
over  the  memoranda  he  had  made  and  see  whether  they 
were  correct?     He  passed  over  the  tablets. 

The  Roman  looked  them  over  carefully  and  pro- 
nounced them  all  right. 

"  Would  the  chief  oblige  him  by  writing  as  much  on 
the  tablets  over  his  own  signature  ? '' 

Yes — the  chief  would  do  that ;  and  did  it. 

Cimon  bowed  again  and  withdrew. 

On  his  way  out  he  saw  Mains  entering.  The  two 
men  seemed  to  recognize  each  other  at  the  same  moment. 
Instantly  there  flashed  into  the  look  of  each  something 
that  told  the  other  that  the  encounter  was  not  pleasant. 
On  the  part  of  the  Greek  the  flash  was  one  that  gave  new 
erectness  to  his  form  and  new  gravity  to  his  features:  on 
the  part  of  the  Jew  it  was  a  flash  of  suspicion  and  alarm 
that  for  an  instant  expanded  his  eyes  and  perceptibly 
checked  his  movement.  For  an  instant  only.  Then 
came  a  new  woodenness  into  his  face,  and  he  seemed  to 
retreat  still  further  behind  those  small,  half-closed  eyes 
which  yet  lost  nothing  of  their  watchful  expression.  So 
on  they  came  toward  each  other — the  Greek  uncon- 
sciously increasing  the  dignity  and  firmness  of  his  tread, 
and  keeping  his  eyes  fixed  on  the  approaching  face  as  if 
bent  on  improving  to  the  utmost  an  unwelcome  opportu- 
nity for  reading  on  that  hard  page  whatever  might  be 
read.     So  they  met  and  passed.     Cimon  never  looked  be- 


THE   CUSTOM   HOUSE.  135 

hind  him.  Had  he  done  so  he  AvoukI  have  seen  Malus 
standing  at  the  door  of  the  office  just  left  and  looking 
after  him. 

But  the  Greek  did  not  need  to  see  this.  That  steady 
look  into  the  face  of  Malus,  though  brief,  was  enough  to 
assure  him  that  the  suspicions  of  the  man  were  all  ablaze, 
and  that  he  would  not  rest  till  he  had  found  out  whatever 
the  custom-house  chief  could  tell  him.  And  probably  he 
would  be  successful  in  suppressing  any  further  light  from 
that  quarter.  Cimon  was  thankful,  however,  that  he 
had  secured  as  much  as  he  had.  He  trusted  that  it 
would  be  sufficient — perhaps  it  could  be  used  to  compel 
more. 

He  was  now  more  than  ever  impressed  with  the  ne- 
cessity of  hastening  Avhatever  further  inquiries  he  had  to 
make.  It  was  still  high  day — why  not  proceed  at  once 
to  the  dealers  in  eastern  goods  whose  addresses  he  had 
jotted  down  at  the  khan,  and  try  to  find  out  what  had 
been  the  selling  prices  of  eastern  goods  for  as  many  years 
as  possible?  Why  not  even  improve  the  opportunity  of 
Malus'  absence  from  his  warehouse  to  go  there  and  see 
what  would  be  said  by  the  subordinates  when  not  over- 
looked by  the  master?  As  soon  as  the  idea  suggested 
itself,  he  accepted  it.  He  would  go  to  Nos.  110,  111, 
112  Emporium  Street  first  of  all. 

.  Accordingly,  as  soon  as  he  had  passed  through  the 
Gate  of  the  Moon,  turning  leftward  into  the  Greek  quar- 
ter to  lessen  the  chances  of  recognition,  he  proceeded 
northward  till  he  thought  he  might  be  opposite  to  the 
warehouse  of  Malus,  and  then  struck  eastward  into  Em- 
porium Street  again.  His  venture  was  successful.  Be- 
fore him  stood  the  establishment  he  was  seeking.     As 


136  THE   CUSTOM  HOUSE. 

soon  as  he  presented  liimself  at  the  door  he  was  politely 
saluted  by  a  young  man  and  invited  to  enter.  AVhat 
could  he  do  for  my  lord? 

My  lord  wished  to  be  conducted  to  the  chief  man  in 
charge  of  the  department  of  eastern  goods. 

"  Certainly,  it  would  be  done  with  the  greatest  pleas- 
ure.    AVould  my  lord  be  pleased  to  follow?  " 

This  following  took  Cimon  through  a  large  part  of 
the  establishment.  He  could  well  believe  it  to  be  the 
largest  warehouse  in  Alexandria.  It  was  really  an  im- 
mense bazaar.  One  could  find  there  almost  anything 
that  was  bought  and  sold  in  the  Roman  world— from  the 
toys  of  infants  up  to  the  furnishings  of  a  royal  palace, 
and  even  of  a  royal  person.  Messengers  were  hurrying 
about,  crowds  were  coming  and  going,  salesmen  were 
crying  out  and  displaying  their  goods  from  hundreds  of 
stalls.  It  was  a  tempest  of  assault  on  the  pouches  of  vis- 
itors.    And  many  were  evidently  being  captured. 

The  department  to  which  Cimon  at  last  came  was 
specially  attractive.  Here,  in  an  air  through  which  stole 
the  sweetness  of  the  Indian  nard  and  other  costly  aro- 
matics,  were  piled  or  suspended  miracles  of  the  loom  and 
needle,  on  some  of  which  had  been  expended  the  labors 
of  a  lifetime— veils  like  sea-foams,  embroideries  to  which 
the  glowing  oriental  fancy  and  patient  fingers  had  trans- 
ferred landscape  and  legend  and  history  and  the  starry 
heavens;  gold  and  silver  brocade  from  beyond  the 
Ganges;  silks,  tapestries,  housings,  rugs,  shawls  from 
Persia  and  Cashmere :  the  whole  brightened  and  multi- 
plied wonderfully  by  polished  steel  mirrors  judiciously 
placed.  At  the  centre  of  the  department  was  the  collec- 
tion of  precious  stones.     In  a  compartment  whose  walls 


THE   CUSTOM   HOUSE.  137 

were  formed  by  suspended  tapestries  richly  hued  and  pic- 
tured, in  a  case  whose  beauty  and  strength  seemed  to 
certify  to  the  great  value  of  its  contents,  lay  pearls  from 
the  Persian  Gulf,  emeralds  from  the  Caucasus,  diamonds 
from  the  Oxus,  turquoises  from  Medea,  rubies  from  Bok- 
hara, and  many  other  gems — all  skillfully  arranged  into 
a  stony  rainbow. 

As  Cimon  passed  close  to  the  sparkling  collection, 
and  lingered  over  it  for  a  moment  as  he  passed,  it 
struck  him  that  the  sparkle  of  some  of  the  brilliants  was 
not  exactly  that  of  genuine  stones.  But  he  might  be 
mistaken.  Something  more  than  a  passing  glance  is 
needed  to  enable  even  an  expert  to  identify  paste  in  its 
better  specimens.  But  one  thing  he  was  quite  sure  of 
by  this  time,  and  that  Avas  that  the  light  in  the  establish- 
ment was  such  as  to  make  an  accurate  judgment  of  most 
of  the  goods  very  difficult  to  an  average  customer,  while 
such  as  to  set  them  off  to  the  best  advantage. 

But  he  was  now  standing  before  the  desk  of  the  man 
whom  he  came  to  see. 

*'You  have  this  department  in  charge,  I  believe," 
said  the  Greek,  as  he  courteously  saluted  a  Jew  who  was 
no  longer  young. 

Receiving  an  affirmative  bow,  Cimon  proceeded : 

*'  I  am  here  in  behalf  of  a  friend  who  is  not  living  in 
this  city,  to  inquire  the  prices  at  which  certain  goods  of 
the  very  best  quality  can  be  obtained.  If  you  will  fur- 
nish me  with  a  large  blank  bill  I  will  specify  the  articles 
in  writing." 

A  large  blank  bill  was  readily  handed  to  him,  on 
which  he  wrote  a  list  of  considerable  length. 

*' Now  will  you  oblige  me,"   said  he,  after  having 


138  THE   CUSTOM    HOUSE. 

carefully  read  over  what  he  had  written,  "by  setting 
down  opposite  these  several  items  the  prices  at  which  you 
could  furnish  them  to-day?"' 

The  man's  eyes  snapped  as  he  looked  over  the  long 
list  and  saw  how  many  expensive  articles  it  included. 
When  he  had  set  down  prices  as  requested,  and  had 
handed  back  the  paper  to  Cimon,  he  said : 

"  The  figures  may  seem  to  you  somewhat  large;  but 
they  are  for  first-class  goods.  In  fact,  I  have  made  the 
prices  smaller  than  they  would  be  for  small  lots,  consid- 
ering the  length  of  your  list." 

Cimon  examined  the  paper  carefully. 

"The  prices  are  unexpectedly  large,  I  confess,"  he 
said  gravely.     "  Have  these  goods  risen  in  value  lately?  " 

"By  no  means.  The  figures  I  have  given  you  are 
the  lowest  we  have  made  in  many  years." 

"  Then  you  have  been  in  charge  of  this  department 
for  a  considerable  time?  " 

"  For  twenty  years." 

"Are  these  the  bottom  prices  for  so  long  a  time  as 
that?" 

"Just  so." 

"  You  surprise  me.  Are  you  quite  sure  that  there  is 
no  mistake  in  this — that  your  memory  serves  you  faith- 
fully in  regard  to  so  many  years?  " 

"  Perfectly  sure,"  with  emphasis.  "  You  see,  all  the 
business  of  this  department,  so  far  as  sales  are  concerned, 
has  been  in  my  hands  for  the  number  of  years  I  have 
mentioned ;  and  I  remember  perfectly  that  never  during 
all  that  time  have  we  offered  or  sold  such  goods  as  these 
at  such  low  figures  as  I  have  written." 

"  I  think,  then,"  said  Cimon,  "it  would  be  well  for 


THE    CUSTOM    HOUSE.  139 

you  to  add  as  much  to  this  paper.  AVould  you  object  to 
write  at  the  bottom,  '  These  are  the  lowest  figures  at 
which  the  above  goods  have  been  sokl  for  the  last  twenty 
years  r 

"  Not  at  all/'  said  the  man — and  wrote  accordingly. 

Cimon  took  the  paper  and  courteously  withdrew. 

In  very  much  the  same  manner  and  with  like  success 
he  dealt  with  several  other  establishments  in  the  same 
neighborhood — obtaining  from  each  a  written  statement 
of  present  prices  and  of  how  these  compared  with  the 
prices  of  the  years  immediately  preceding.  The  last 
place  he  visited  was  that  of  Simeon  Ben  Simeon.  Here, 
for  the  first  time,  he  saw  himself  recognized — Simeon 
himself  being  present — and  was  received  in  a  very  cordial 
way. 

"  We  certainly  are  under  great  obligations  to  you  and 
that  magnificent  young  friend  of  yours  for  your  spirited 
help  yesterday  in  the  synagogue.  I  have  been  quite  de- 
sirous to  meet  you  again :  especially  as  I  saw  that  both  of 
you  were  much  interested  in  my  report  of  matters  in 
Judea,  and,  as  I  ventured  to  think,  took  very  much  the 
same  view  of  them  as  I  did.  Also,  I  have  something 
new  to  tell  you." 

Simeon  then  gave  the  account  with  which  we  are  al- 
ready familiar,  as  given  to  Aleph  by  Eachel.  And,  in 
return,  the  Greek  related  what  Shaphan  had  told  him — 
keeping  back,  however,  the  part  that  related  to  Mains. 
And  they  rejoiced  together. 

*'Tell  me,"  said  Simeon  suddenly,  *' about  that 
young  man — you  know  whom  I  mean.  Somehow  he  has 
a  way  of  walking  into  one's  confidence  and  affections 
after  a  very  wonderful  fashion.     AVho  is  he?" 


140  THE   CUSTOM   HOUSE. 

Cimon  smiled  at  this  downrightness  and  furious 
driving  at  the  mark. 

"For  the  present/'  said  he,  "he  is  only  the  friend 
and  pupil  of  Cimon  the  son  of  Cimon.  I  may,  however, 
add  that  he  is  one  who  is  quite  worthy  of  the  impression 
he  makes.  The  gold  is  solid.  I  have  now  known  him 
for  twenty  years— that  is  to  say,  ever  since  he  was  born 
—and  I  have  nothing  but  good  and  great  things  to  say 
of  him.  Is  he  my  son?  Of  course  not— as  one  can 
easily  see— but  though  not  my  son  he  is  a  remarkably 
good  substitute  for  one.  I  could  hardly  have  a  better. 
And,"  he  added  archly,  "  I  think  seriously  of  adopting 

him." 

The  Jew  laughed  at  the  cleverness  of  the  Greek,  and 
forebore  to  press;  only  adding,  ''I  could  adopt  him  with- 
out thinking  seriously  of  it." 

As  he  rose  to  leave,  Cimon  said,  "I  am  really  sorry 
that  I  cannot  at  present  give  you  the  information  you 
wish  about  my  young  friend.  But  I  am  under  bonds. 
His  father  only  can  release  me,  and  that  father  is  far 
away.  So  I  must  confine  myself  to  saying  that,  unlike 
most  plants  which  begin  to  wither  as  soon  as  they  are 
parted  from  the  parent  root,  this  plant  daily  freshens 
into  a  larger  life.  I  am  the  more  sorry  that  I  cannot  go 
beyond  this,  both  because  you  have  already  given  me  in- 
formation of  the  highest  value,  and  because  I  came  here 
for  the  very  purpose  of  getting  still  further  information 
from  you— provided  you  can  consistently  grant  it.  I 
wish  to  get  from  the  leading  dealers  in  eastern  goods  in 
this  city  the  present  selling  prices  of  a  number  of  articles 
—also  how  these  prices  compare  with  those  of  as  many  past 
years  as  possible.     I  have  already  obtained  written  state- 


THE   CUSTOM   HOUSE.  141 

meiits  from  all,  save  yourself,  on  whom  I  proposed  to 
call.     Do  you  see  any  objection  to  giving  me  yours?" 

"  None  in  the  world.     Let  me  see  your  list." 

So  in  a  few  moments  Cimon  added  another  to  his  pa- 
pers.    As  Simeon  handed  it  to  him,  he  said : 

"  I  think  you  can  hardly  have  called  on  Mains  to-day, 
and  yet  he  has  the  largest  establishment  of  your  sort  in 
the  city.  He  would  hardly  care  to  give  you  such  a  paper 
as  this.     He  is  much  too  dee\)  for  that." 

Without  a  word,  the  Greek  singled  out  one  from  his 
parcel  of  papers  and  passed  it  to  the  Jew — who  as  soon  as 
he  had  glanced  it  over,  exclaimed : 

^'  Where  was  Mains  when  this  was  given .^  " 

"Absent." 

"  Of  course.  Of  course  he  was  absent — as  his  deputy 
will  probably  be  when  the  master  learns  of  his  indiscre- 
tion." 

As  Cimon  had  noticed  no  sign  of  recognition  in 
street  or  shop,  save  at  Simeon's,  he  had  begun  to  feel 
that  perhaps  his  precautions  had  been  unnecessary ;  so, 
when  he  had  taken  leave  of  Simeon  and  saw  how  large  a 
part  of  the  day  still  remained,  instead  of  crossing  directly 
into  the  Greek  quarter  again  and  so  j^roceeding  home- 
ward, he  turned  northward  on  Emporium  Street  till  he 
came  to  the  great  square  at  the  intersection  with  the 
street  of  Canopus.  Here,  seeing  a  crowd  that  seemed 
greatly  interested  with  something  in  their  midst,  he 
crossed  over  to  them,  and  finally  managed,  by  a  patient 
use  of  the  impatience  of  others,  to  secure  a  place  where 
he  could  see  what  was  going  on. 

And  this  was  what  was  going  on.  A  number  of 
street  boys,  altogether  Jewish,  were  busy  practicing  a 


142  THE    CUSTOM    HOUSE. 

new  game.     They  had  drawn  on  the  pavement  with  a 
charred  stick  the  ground  [)Uin  of  a  hirge  buikling  which 
Cimon  at  once  recognized  as  the  Diapleuston.     Just  be- 
fore him  was  an  unmarked  place  for  the  principal  door : 
half  way  down  on  the  left  was  a  pile  of  boxes  to  stand  for 
tlie  main  henia  with  its  canopy  and  lecturn :  in  front  of 
this  stood  a  group  of  boys  pretending  to  be  in  earnest 
conversation   among   themselves.     After  this  show  had 
continued  for  a  while,  all  but  two  of  the  boys  walked  off 
and  squatted  silently  behind  the  boxes.     The  two  boys 
left  continued  the  pantomime  of  conversation  for  a  few 
minutes,  when  a  noise  was  heard  and  lo,  another  group 
of  boys  who  had  been  hid  behind  the  fountain  came 
marching  in  at  the  door,  two  by  two,  with  papyrus  hel- 
mits   on   their   heads   and   long,    sharpened    sticks    for 
spears,  trying  to  keep  pace  together  in  soldierly  fashion, 
and  carrying  in  their  midst,  transfixed  on  an  extra  long 
stick,  a  very  ragged,  dirty,  and  hideous  doll.     At  the 
head    of    this    company    swaggered,   perhaps    the   best 
dressed,  but  certainly  the  ugliest  little  rascal  of  the  whole 
lot.     He  had  taken  some  pains  to  add  to  his  natural  ac- 
complishments such  smutches  of  loveliness  as  a  liberal 
use  of  mud  and  charcoal  could  ^ve,  and  would  have 
frightened  his  own  father  and  mother.     About  his  waist 
was  a  rope  for  a  sash :  to  this  was  attached  a  bit  of  papy- 
rus cut  into  the  shape  of  a  scabbard;   in  his  hand  he 
flourished  as  sword  a  short  strip  of  lath  that  had  just 
come  from  the  shambles  and  was  red  enough  to  be  the 
sword  of  Mars. 

This  high  and  mighty  captain  at  once  led  his  com- 
pany straight  to  the  two  boys,  surrounded  them,  and  fell 
to  abusing  them  with  Jiis  tongue  as  only  a  practiced 


THE   CUSTOM   HOUSE.  1-13 

street  Arab  could  do.     On  this,  the  other  boys  behind 
the  boxes  hurried  to  the  scene  of  action,  and  threw  in  a 
liberal  accompaniment  of  voice  and  gesture  to  swell  the 
interest  of  the  occasion.  Soon  Captain  Mars  worked  him- 
self into  a  tempest,  flew  at  one  of  the  two  boys,  with  his 
bloody  weapon  uplifted.     The  other   boys   so   crowded 
about  the  encounter  with  outstretched  and  swaying  arms 
as  to  confuse  the  view  of  the  spectators ;  but  in  a  few 
moments  they  saw  the  mimic  sword  flying  high  in  air, 
and  then  its  owner  in  close  custody  in  process  of  being 
marched  helplessly  toward  the  door,  followed  by  his  tat- 
terdermalions  hanging  their  heads  and  staggering  about 
as  they  were  pushed  and  pulled  and  cuffed  by  the  scream- 
ing and  enthusiastic  escort  that  hemmed  them  closely  in. 
At  the  door  the  leader  was  dismissed  with  a  rousing  box 
on  the  ear  which  sent  him  off  on  a  stagger,  which  finally 
ended  in  a  runaway  toward  the  Roman  quarter.     His  fol- 
lowers each  received  a  like  compliment  with  a  like  result. 
The    spectators    seemed    to    enjoy    this    conclusion 
hugely.     They  cheered  and  gesticulated  with  great  en- 
thusiasm; and  when  the  hot  chase  took  place  they  all 
hurried  off  to  keep  it  in  view.     The  last  to  follow  was  a 
man  who  had  been  standing  just  before  Cimon.     This 
man,  glancing  right  and  left  as  if  to  make  sure  that  the 
ground  was  clear,  directed  his  course  across  the  square  so 
as  to  take  on  his  way  the  two  boys  who  had  personated 
Cimon  and  Aleph,  and  dealt  each  of  them  in  passing  a 
thwack  on  the  head  that  was  none  of  the  mildest.     At 
all  events,  it  was  not  a  mild  wailing  that  the  little  fellows 
set  up.     Luckily,  however,  Cimon  had  noticed  the  move- 
ments of  the  man,  and  half  divining  his  purpose,  had  fol- 
lowed him  so  closely  that  he  was  near  enough  when  the 


1-i-i  THE   CUSTOM   HOTjSE. 

blows  were  given  to  follow  them  with  prompt  punish- 
ment. The  two  hearty  cuffs  he  gave  the  fellow  were 
quite  equal  in  value  to  those  he  had  administered,  and 
seemed  very  surprising.  In  the  startled  and  inflamed 
face  that  was  suddenly  turned  toward  him,  Cimon  recog- 
nized, as  he  thought,  Roman  features,  though  considera- 
bly disguised.  Could  it  be  that  he  had  again  encoun- 
tered the  son  of  the  Governor?  But  the  man  gave  him 
no  opportunity  for  a  closer  examination.  He  went  rap- 
idly off  with  a  Latin  oath  and  a  fist-shaking  that  belonged 
to  all  languages. 

Cimon  consoled  the  children  with  a  friendly  pat  on 
the  head  and  a  piece  of  money  for  each— such  as  he  had 
never  before  possessed.  But  they  hardly  needed  this 
consolation — they  were  so  delighted  with  the  summary 
judgment  on  their  oppressor.  Smiles  were  already  rip- 
pling over  their  tearful  faces  like  sunshine  over  a  wet 
landscape.  And  when  the  friendly  look  and  touch  and 
money  were  added,  their  sorrows  were  all  forgotten  in  a 
caper  of  delight.  But  Cimon  was  really  sorry  that  the 
urchins  had  not  chosen  some  other  theme  for  their  sport. 

'*Ten  to  one,''^'said  he  to  himself,  "  this  affair,  with 
liberal  embellishments,  will  be  carried  straight  to  Bru- 
chium,  and  will  still  further  stir  up  ill  blood  between  the 
sections.  There  will  be  trouble  here  before  long.  These 
Jews  are  too  reckless  and  provoking  to  be  left  alone.  It 
may  be  that  their  expectation  of  a  conquering  Messiah  at 
the  door  has  something  to  do  with  their  audacity." 

With  such  thoughts  as  these  running  through  his 
mind,  he  made  his  way  homeward  through  the  Greek  and 
Egyptian  quarters.  His  thoughts  ran,  but  his  feet 
walked — walked  very  leisurely ;  for  so  at  this  hour  of  the 


THE   CUSTOM   HOUSE.  145 

day  did  most  of  the  people ;  and  he  did  not  care  to  draw 
attention  to  himself  by  doing  differently  from  others. 
Besides,  he  wished  to  study  the  people,  as  far  as  he  could 

without  being  observed.      And  it  is  wonderful  how 

much  some  people  can  see  without  the  appearance  of  see- 
ing. They  could  hardly  see  more  if  their  heads  were  set 
with  a  coronet  of  eyes.  Do  they  divine  the  situation? 
Do  they  absorb  the  facts  lying  about  them  at  every  pore 
as  they  do  heat  and  moisture?  So  it  would  seem.  Cimon 
belonged  to  this  class  of  men.  He  did  not  stare,  he  did 
not  look  this  way  and  that,  and  sometimes  turn  about, 
with  curiosity  flooding  every  feature  and  saying,  "  I  am  a 
new-comer,"  but  he  pursued  his  way  with  quiet  and  equal 
steps  and  with  ''  eyes  that  looked  right  on,  and  eyelids  that 
looked  straight  before  him" — and  yet  nothing  escaped 
him ;  not  even  that  shadow  of  a  portly  man  just  disap- 
pearing within  a  shpp  on  his  left  and  that  ragged  little 
urchin  that  almost  immediately  darted  out  of  the  same 
and  followed  him  at  a  little  distance. 

AVhat  should  he  do?  A  thought  came  to  him  as  he 
came  to  a  baker's  shop.  He  turned  in  and  called  for  a 
loaf  and  some  cakes — keeping  an  eye  on  the  open  door 
while  his  parcel  was  being  made  up.  Presently  the  little 
ragamuffin  appeared  cautiously  peeping  within.  Cimon 
held  out  toward  him  a  large,  tempting  cake,  and  beck- 
oned. The  boy  came  in  slowly,  as  if  resisting  an  irresist- 
ible magnet. 

'^  Hungry,  my  lad?  " 

The  hungry  eyes  and  pinched  features  of  the  little  fel- 
low answered  the  question  before  his  bobbing  head  could 
say  Yes,  as  it  was  not  slow  to  do. 

'*  Had  anything  to  eat  to-day,  my  poor  boy?     Eeally, 


146  THE   CUSTOM    HOUSE. 

I  do  not  believe  you  luive,"  he  added  pityingly,  as  he 
looked  more  carefully  into  the  thin,  dirty  face. 

The  face  began  to  cry. 

"And  you  had  no  money  to  buy  food  with — had 
you?  '^  inquired  Cimon,  as  he  softly  patted  the  curly  head. 

"  He  said  he  would  give  me  some  money  when  I  came 
back/'  said  the  boy. 

"  Who  said  it?"  asked  Cimon. 

*'  The  man  who  sent  me  to  see  where  you  were  going." 

*'  He  did  not  think  I  was  going  into  a  baker's  shop  to 
get  you  something  to  eat — did  he?  Come,  sit  right  down 
here  on  this  bench  and  eat  this  loaf  and  these  cakes. 
Any  more  hungry  ones  at  home?" 

The  boy  at  this  began  to  sob,  and  at  last  broke  into  a 
perfect  canter  of  sobs.  He  muttered  something  which 
Cimon  had  to  bend  low  to  make  out. 

''What,  poor  mother  and  little  sister!  Alas,  alas — 
how  sorry  I  am !  But  do  you  sit  here  and  eat  this ;  and 
when  you  have  finished,  the  baker  shall  give  you  twice  as 
much  to  carry  home  to  your  hungry  mother  and  sister, 
for  here  is  the  money.  If  I  could  help,  they  should  never 
be  hungry  again." 

I  do  not  know  what  the  baker  thought  of  this  way  of 
treating  the  little  beggar.  But  I  know  what  the  little 
beggar  thought.  He  highly  approved.  He  soon  dried 
his  tears  in  the  presence  of  kind  looks,  kind  words,  and 
kinder  food.  What  a  glorious  appetite  that  was !  And 
while  it  was  being  satisfied,  or  at  least  gratified,  our 
friend  quietly  went  his  way — unshadowed. 


VII. 
THE    MATRICULATION. 

Aei  6e  avTuc  rag  fijjTepag  tu  TEKva  Tpe<peiv. 

— Plutarch,  De  Lib.  Educ.  q.  5. 

Mothers  must  cherish  their  children. 


1.  An  ettiical  lecture. 

2.  How  stiadents  examine. 

3.  Is  Jesus  a.  nnagician? 

4.  Let  Nliriam  testify. 


VII. 

THE    MATRICULATION. 

A  LEPH  was  greatly  interested  in  Cimon's  account  of 
J^\-  his  adventures — most  of  all  in  the  story  of  Sha- 
phan.  He  determined  to  communicate  it  as  soon  as  possi- 
ble to  the  daughter  of  Alexander.  But  when  would  it 
be  possible?  On  referring  to  his  syllabus  he  found  that 
Seti  would  lecture  early  the  next  morning.  He  would 
attend  that  lecture,  and  afterward  would  go  to  look  after 
the  sick  woman  Miriam.  Perhaps  he  would  find  Rachel 
with  her :  if  not  he  might  learn  when  she  was  likely  to 
come,  and  so  manage  to  meet  her. 

Before  the  third  hour  the  next  morning,  both  Cimon 
and  Aleph  found  themselves  in  the  great  lecture  hall  of 
the  Serapeum.  The  students  came  in  scatteringly ;  but 
at  length  the  room  waft  well  filled,  for  Seti  was  popular 
with  the  young  men.  This  was  owing  partly  to  the 
splendor  of  his  lineage  and  office,  which  always  weighs 
much  with  even  the  most  democratic  young  men ;  partly 
to  his  repute  as  the  heir  of  the  mysterious  wisdom  of  Old 
Egypt;  and  partly  to  the  wonderful  contrast  between  his 
years  and  the  unabated  vigor  of  both  his  bodily  and  intel- 
lectual faculties.  And  then  this  son  of  the  Pharaohs  and 
supreme  Egyptian  pontiff  was  fond  of  young  men,  rea- 
sonably tolerant  of  their  ways,  and  knew  how  to  unite 


150  THE    MATRICULATION. 

familiarity  witli  dignity  in  his  intercourse  with  them. 
But  he  was  specially  in  favor  with  the  dominant  aristo- 
cratic element.  Some  of  the  other  teachers  were  new 
men.  Nobody  knew  who  their  fathers  were.  The  patri- 
cian young  men  from  Rome  and  elsewhere  declared  that 
they  had  no  fathers.  What  had  the  Fabii  and  Claudii 
and  Scipios  to  do  with  such  people? 

Cimon  and  Aleph  had  taken  seats  well  in  the  rear  of 
the  hall.  So  they  had  opportunity  to  notice  the  bearing 
of  the  young  men  as  they  came  in.  On  the  whole  they 
were  pleased  with  it.  While  a  few  had  the  air  of  trifiers 
and  coxcombs,  and  here  and  there  one  had  the  jaded  look 
that  suggested  late  hours  and  early  dissipation,  the  most 
had  in  various  degrees  that  regulated  and  purposeful  air 
which  teachers  like  to  see.  Among  the  more  thoughtful 
and  earnest  looking  Aleph  noticed  one  of  the  two  Ro- 
mans whom  he  had  met  at  the  banker's.  He  also  noticed 
that  the  ages  of  the  students  seemed  to  average  about  the 
same  as  his  own. 

Almost  every  one  who  entered  seemed  to  notice  the 
new-comers ;  and  soon  there  was  considerable  whispering 
and  passing  to  and  fro  among  the  young  men — which 
continued  till  Seti  appeared.  H^  stopped  for  a  moment 
to  exchange  salutations  with  our  friends,  and  then  con- 
ducted them  to  a  seat  on  the  right  of  the  bema.  This 
was  the  customary  seat  for  newly  matriculated  persons : 
and  was  greatly  for  the  convenience  of  older  collegians 
who  thus  not  only  became  promptly  aware  of  a  new  arri- 
val, but  could  quietly  study  him  up  without  the  fatigue 
and  incivility  of  turning  about  in  their  seats  for  the  pur- 
pose. Of  course  it  was  at  the  expense  of  the  lecture. 
But  never  mind — there  are  some  things  more  important 


THE    MATRICULATIO]^.  151 

than  lectures  to  young  people ;  and  one  of  them  is  the 
discipline  of  guessing  out  characters  from  faces  and  bear- 
ing. 

From  the  seat  they  now  had  the  friends  could  see  well 
what  they  had  not  before  noticed,  viz.,  a  small  latticed 
gallery  just  opposite  to  them  from  which  came  occasion- 
ally some  hints  and  glints  of  white  draperies.  Though 
none  of  the  schools  of  the  time  distinctly  contemplated 
the  co-education  of  the  sexes,  there  was  nothing  in  public 
opinion,  especially  at  Alexandria,  to  hinder  the  daugh- 
ters of  the  professors  and  other  approved  ladies  from 
hearing  the  lectures  given  to  the  young  men ;  though  it 
was  thought  best  to  place  the  beauties  where  they  could 
not  be  seen.  The  professors  generally  favored  this  invis- 
ible presence  as  being  conducive  to  good  order  and  gen- 
tlemanly conduct  among  the  students.  The  chivalrous 
instinct  was  not  a  medieval  invention,  nor  even  an  inven- 
tion of  Christianity.  The  students  at  the  Serapeum  in 
the  First  Century  knew  that  bright  eyes  were  watching 
them  and  behaved  accordingly. 

The  lecture  of  Seti  was  on  the  ethics  of  truthfulness. 
It  was  delivered  with  a  grave  and  quiet  dignity  and  au- 
thority well  befitting  his  years  and  station,  and  yet  with 
a  subtle  fire  and  force  of  thought  and  expression  that 
suited  wonderfully  youthful  tastes.  He  had  no  manu- 
script before  him,  nor  did  he  seem  to  have  one  within 
him  from  which  he  was  reading;  but  he  seemed  to  find 
his  thoughts  in  the  faces  and  eyes  of  his  hearers  as  his 
keen  glances  went  to  and  fro  among  them.  And  the 
young  men  felt  that  they  were  being  perused. 

On  the  way  home,  the  day  before,  Seti  had  informed 
Aleph  of  a  custom  among  the  students.     He  had  matric- 


152  THE   MATRICULATION". 

ulated  with  the  Faculty  of  the  University :  the  students 
would  ask  him  to  matriculate  also  with  themselves. 
Each  new-comer  was  not  considered  by  them  as  invested 
with  full  membership  till  they  had  examined  him  for 
themselves  and  settled  his  grade  among  them  as  a  colle- 
gian. It  was  possible  to  avoid  the  ordeal,  if  he  saw  fit ; 
but  a  cheerful  acceptance  of  it  would  conduce  to  popu- 
larity, and,  if  the  trial  should  be  well  sustained,  would 
give  him  a  commanding  influence.  What  would  Aleph 
prefer?  Seti  had  asked  with  a  shade  of  anxiety  in  his  face. 

'*By  all  means/'  Aleph  had  said  with  a  smile,  ''let 
not  this  custom  be  waived  on  my  account.  I  rather  fancy 
the  double  matriculation." 

So  he  was  not  surprised  when  at  the  conclusion  of  the 
lecture  all  the  students  retained  their  seats.  He  was, 
however,  somewhat  surprised  to  see  that  Seti  retained  his 
also.  But  he  had  no  time  to  speculate  on  the  matter : 
for  a  fine  looking  young  man  at  once  came  forward  and, 
courteously  calling  attention  to  the  badge  the  stranger 
wore,  inquired  whether  he  wished  such  further  member- 
ship and  privileges  among  them  as  an  examination  by  the 
students  would  confer. 

Aleph  rose  and  as  courteously  replied  that  such  was 
his  wish;  and  that  he  would  not  on  any  account  have  any 
of  the  usual  formalities  omitted. 

"This  being  so,"  continued  the  young  man,  "your 
full  consent  to  our  ancient  custom  having  thus  been  gra- 
ciously conceded,  I  call  on  our  committee  for  testing  can- 
didates to  come  forward  in  proper  order  and  discharge 
their  duty.  I  will  only  premise  for  your  information 
that  the  examination  will  ask  two  questions — first.  What 
do  you  knotu?  and  second,  Wl/af  can  you  do  9 


>f 


THE   MATRICULATION.  153 

Whereupon  two  young  men  presented  themselves,  and 
one  of  them  said,  "  I  have  the  honor  to  put  the  first  ques- 
tion—  What  do  you  kiioiu  ?  " 

Aleph  smiled. 

"Excuse  my  smiling/'  said  he,  "at  the  exceeding 
largeness  of  your  question.  If  I  attempt  to  answer  it,  I 
must  begin  with  confessing  that  my  knowledge  is  very 
limited.  Compared  with  what  there  is  to  be  known,  it 
is  practically  nothing ;  compared  with  what  I  wish  to 
know  it  is  very  trifling  indeed  ;  perhaps  further  exami- 
nation may  show  that  it  is  also  very  trifling  in  compari- 
son with  what  some  of  my  fellow-students  know,''  and  he 
bowed  to  the  young  men.  A  ripple  of  laughter  went 
through  the  room. 

"  If  you  find  my  associate's  question,"  said  the  other 
member  of  the  committee,  "  a  little  too  large  to  be  man- 
ageable, perhaps  you  will  tell  us  what  you  already  know 
of  the  various  branches  of  knowledge  preliminary  to 
those  studied  here.  Doubtless  you  have  informed  your- 
self as  to  our  curriculum ;  it  not  being  considered  in  gen- 
eral a  wise  thing  to  leap  into  the  dark." 

"This  question,"  returned  Aleph,  "is  not  indeed  as 
broad  as  the  other ;  but  still  it  would  be  hard  to  give  you 
a  satisfactory  answer  (I  mean  one  satisfactory  to  yourself, 
for  this  I  could  wish  to  do)  unless  you  will  tell  me  what 
branches  of  knowledge  you  consider  preparatory  to  this 
Institution.  I  fancy  there  might  be  a  difference  of  opin- 
ion as  to  that  matter — after  setting  aside  a  few  element- 
ary things.  I  can  read  and  write  and  speak  the  Greek 
and  Latin  languages  after  a  fashion :  have  such  acquaint- 
ance with  the  literature  in  these  tongues  as,  I  should 
hope,  would  enable  me  to  understand  such  references  to 


154  THE   MATRICULATION. 

them  as  may  occur  in  your  lectures;  have  also  had  some 
little  practice  in  moral  and  mathematical  reasoning,  suffi- 
cient, I  should  hope,  for  understanding  a  good  argument 
when  presented.  Is  there  any  further  preparation 
needed?  I  have  indeed  heard  (what  I  suppose  to  be  true) 
that  a  little  knowledge  of  religion — some  just  and  clear 
ideas  of  Deity  and  duty  and  responsibility— is  a  good 
thing  in  the  way  of  preparation  for  university  life.  In 
regard  to  that  sort  of  knowledge,  I  can  only  say  that  if  I 
do  not  possess  it  the  fault  does  not  lie  with  my  parents 
or  other  teachers  "  (he  slightly  inclined  his  head  toward 
Cimon).  '' They  have  done  their  duty.  But  perhaps  my 
questioner  does  not  lay  any  stress  on  this  last  sort  of 
knowledge  as  a  valuable  preliminary  to  the  speculations 
and  associations  of  college  life.  It  is  even  possible  that 
he  considers  it  a  decided  disadvantage.  I  know  that  such 
views  are  sometimes  found  among  students." 

Aleph  had  drawn  his  bow  at  a  venture.  But  the 
broad  wave  of  laughter  that  now  swept  through  the  hall 
assured  him  that  somebody  had  been  hit.  Was  it  not 
the  questioner  himself,  whose  color  had  sensibly  deep- 
ened? 

His  mate  took  up  the  broken  thread.  "  Certainly  we 
did  not  all  come  here  with  as  good  a  preparation  as  that : 
but  perhaps  you  have  done  more  than  the  preparatory, 
and  already  know  considerably  of  the  branches  of  study 
which  engage  us  here.  Such  advanced  students  often 
come  to  us  for  various  reasons." 

"I  cannot  say,"  returned  Aleph,  *'that  I  am  alto- 
gether ignorant  of  the  subjects  discussed  here.  It  has 
been  my  good  fortune  to  have  as  teacher  one  who  in  his 
youth  passed  much  time  in  both  the  Athenian  and  Alex- 


THE   MATRICULATION.  155 

andrian  schools.  And  he  has  attempted,  not  as  success- 
fully perhaps  as  he  could  wish,  to  put  his  own  knowl- 
edge into  his  pupil.  What  I  know  I  owe  to  him  and  my 
parents :  what  I  do  not  know  I  owe  to  myself.  Certainly 
I  do  not  come  here  because  I  know  so  much,  but  because 
I  know  so  little.  I  hope  to  enlarge  my  knowledge,  such 
as  it  is.  In  thirty  years  not  a  few  changes  must  have 
taken  place  here — new  teachers  have  come  to  the  front, 
new  ways  of  presenting  and  illustrating  old  truths  are 
used,  and  it  is  barely  possible  that  some  things  then  con- 
sidered branches  of  knowledge  are  now  known  to  be 
branches  of  ignorance.  So  I  hope  to  profit.  Is  this  sat- 
isfactory? or  would  the  committee  like  to  have  me  ex- 
plain a  syllogism,  epitomize  Plato  or  Aristotle  or  Zeno, 
or  expound  the  astronomy  of  Pythagoras?"  just  the 
glimmer  of  an  amused  expression  stealing  from  his  eye. 

"Not  either  of  these,"  answered  the  committee. 
"  Doubtless  you  are  well  prepared  on  what  you  volunta- 
rily offer.  Allow  us  to  ask  you  for  something  which,  as 
it  is  wholly  unprecedented  on  such  occasions  as  this,  you 
can  hardly  have  made  special  preparation  for.  AVe  will 
ask  you  for  an  epitome  of  the  lecture  to  which  we  have 
just  listened.  This  is  a  compliment  we  owe  to  our  ven- 
erable teacher  who,  I  think,  has  never  before  honored  us 
with  his  presence  on  a  similar  occasion."' 

Turning  to  Seti,  Aleph  expressed  a  hope  that  he 
would  excuse  any  injustice  that  might  be  done  to  his 
lecture  under  such  a  stress  of  circumstances,  and  then 
proceeded  as  follows : 

"  The  lecture  was  on  the  ethics  of  truthfulness.  It 
held  up  to  abhorrence  the  general  character  of  a  liar  and 
hypocrite;    and    said   that   men  must   tell   what   seems 


156  THE   MATRICULATION. 

truth  to  them  whenever  tney  profess  to  tell  it.  In  war, 
hostile  forces  do  not  profess  to  tell  the  truth  to  each 
other,  but  the  contrary :  the  very  fact  of  war  certifies  to 
all  that  feints,  stratagems,  deceptions  of  all  sorts  will  be 
used,  and  they  are  just  as  proper  as  war  itself.  Under 
certain  circumstances  one  can  properly  withhold  truth 
from  his  neighbor  without  notice  given.  No  man  is 
bound  to  tell  all  he  knows  to  all  sorts  of  persons  without 
regard  to  how  they  will  use  the  information.  A  glass 
house  would  not  be  a  good  one  to  live  in — especially 
where  stones  and  sinners  are  plenty.  Silence  is  often 
both  the  privilege  and  duty  of  a  man,  as  well  as  his  wis- 
dom. Deity  himself  keeps  back  much  truth  permanently 
from  us,  and  chooses  his  own  times  and  ways  for  reveal- 
ing other  truth.  In  the  interest  of  justice  we  can  prop- 
erly make  inquiries  which,  if  their  object  were  known, 
would  not  be  answered :  we  can  be  silent  on  what  crimi- 
nals have  no  right  to  know.  In  government,  in  busi- 
ness, in  social  intercourse  a  measure  of  reticence  is  indis- 
pensable to  the  Avisest  living,  and  even  to  righteousness. 
Without  notice  given,  one  may  never  affirm  what  he 
thinks  to  be  false:  he  may  without  notice  sometimes 
keep  back  what  he  knows  to  be  true.  These  positions 
were  defended  by  considerations  drawn  from  natural  con- 
science, the  general  voice  of  mankind,  the  testimonies  of 
illustrious  teachers,  and  the  grave  difficulties  that  would 
arise  were  the  world  to  accept  and  act  upon  other  princi- 
ples." 

Aleph  folded  his  arms  and  looked  inquiringly  at  the 
committee.     The  committee  looked  inquiringly  at  Seti. 

"  May  we  ask  the  venerable  Seti  whether  this  is  a  sat- 
isfactory account  of  his  lecture?" 


THE   MATRICULATION.  167 

He  bowed  assent :  and  a  general  cheer  went  up  from 
the  benches. 

"  I  perceive,"  said  the  master  of  ceremonies,  "  that  it 
is  the  mind  of  our  community  that  I  pronounce  the  first 
part  of  the  examination  well  sustained.  Accordingly  I 
so  pronounce."  " 

Another  round  of  applause. 

The  young  man  continued,  addressing  Aleph,  ''As 
you  have  doubtless  perceived,  our  object  has  been  not  so 
much  to  find  out  how  much  you  know  as  your  powers  of 
knowing.  I  think  we  have  gotten  sufficient  light  on 
that  point.  May  we  get  as  much  on  the  point  that  still 
remains  to  be  inquired  into,  viz.,  your  powers  of  doing. 
Our  community  lay  considerable  stress  on  physical  ac- 
complishments, and,  we  think,  with  good  reason.  An 
efficient  mind  does  its  best  in  an  efficient  body.  We  but 
follow  the  traditions  of  more  classical  times  when  we  ask 
whether  you  can  run  and  ride  and  row,  can  leap  and  lift 
and  shoot  and  wrestle  and  fence — in  short,  protect  your 

mother  and  sisters  and  such  maiden  as  the  gods  may  give 
you.^' 

"  I  have  had  some  teaching  in  all  these  matters,"  re- 
plied Aleph:  "whether  I  have  duly  profited  by  the 
teaching  it  does  not  become  me  to  say." 

''Are  you  willing  to  appear  in  our  pahestra  for  a  test- 
ing ;  and  if  so,  do  you  choose  to  compete  with  the  good 
or  the  better  or  the  best  in  each  department?" 

"  I  am  willing  to  appear:  and  defeat  would  be  less 
mortifying  to  me  at  the  hands  of  the  best,"  said  Aleph 
with  infinite  composure. 

"  But  one  thing  remains  to  be  attended  to  here,"  con- 
tinued Publius  Cornelius  (for  this  was  the  name  of  the 


158  THE   MATRICULATION. 

young  Roman  "who  acted  as  master  of  ceremonies).  "Ac- 
cording to  our  rules,  when  a  young  man  has  elected  the 
best  competitors — which  indeed  rarely  happens — it  is 
necessary  that  he  stand  face  to  face  with  them  in  our 
presence,  that  he  may  fully  understand  what  he  under- 
takes, and  have  an  opportunity  to  recede  from  his  choice 
if  he  thinks  best :  also  that  we  may  judge  whether  his 
choice  is  a  reasonable  one.  Our  best  will  now  please 
present  themselves  with  the  candidate  in  front  of  the 
bema." 

A  number  of  young  men  rose  in  different  parts  of  the 
hall,  and  made  their  way  to  the  open  space  before  Seti. 
Aleph  also  advanced  and  stood  near,  facing  them. 

There  was  a  profound  silence  for  a  few  moments  as 
the  confronting  parties  surveyed  each  other,  and  were 
closely  surveyed  and  compared  by  the  rest  (many  stand- 
ing on  their  seats  for  the  purpose).  Then  burst  out  an 
almost  deafening  cheer. 

The  fact  was  that  as  long  as  Aleph  stood  by  himself 
his  extraordinary  physicar  advantages  had  not  fully  dis- 
played themselves.  But  when  he  came  to  stand  with 
others  everybody  at  once  saw  that  in  that  group  there 
was  no  face  so  noble  and  winning,  no  figure  so  majestic 
and  exquisitely  proportioned,  no  bearing  so  lofty  and 
poised  and  full  of  suggestion  of  power  and  leadership  as 
Aleph's.  So  evident  was  all  this  to  the  "best"  them- 
selves that  they  could  not  prevent  the  consciousness  of  it 
from  appearing  in  their  uneasy  faces  and  attitudes — es- 
pecially after  that  spontaneous  cheer  which  they  well  un- 
derstood. 

"Well?''  inquired  Cornelius,  looking  at  Aleph. 

Aleph  again   passed  his  eyes  naturally  and  serenely 


THE   MATRICULATION.  159 

through  the  grouj)  before  him,  resting  them  for  an  in- 
stant on  one  taller  and  brawnier  than  the  rest,  and  then 
said  quietly,  *'  I  adhere  to  my  choice." 

A  young  man  started  up.  "  Our  president  has  stated 
that  we  are  to  judge  of  the  reasonableness  of  this  choice. 
It  seems  to  me  a  very  unreasonable  one.  The  advantages 
are  too  much  on  one  side.  Unless  the  gods  interfere 
(and  somehow  they  are  not  apt  to  do  so  in  these  days) 
there  can  be  but  one  result  to  such  an  unequal  competi- 
tion. It  is  foreordained.  I  therefore  propose,  in  the  in- 
terest of  our  Best,  that  the  candidate  be  at  once  passed 
to  his  matriculation  with  all  the  honors  and  with  no 
conditions  whatever.  This  course,  it  is  true,  is  unprece- 
dented ;  but  then  the  circumstances  are  unprecedented. 
Those  of  us  who  know  a  good  thing  when  we  see  it,  are, 
I  think,  quite  prepared  for  this  action." 

Action,  Action  was  exclaimed  from  all  parts  of  the 
hall. 

Cornelius  stepped  on  a  bench,  and  looking  about  the 
assembly  called  out,  "  Is  there  any  objection  on  the  part 
of  any  to  the  course  which  Quintius  Fabius  proposes?" 

After  waiting  a  moment  for  responses  that  did  not 
come,  the  president  proceeded,  ' '  Let  every  one  who  re- 
gards the  examination  as  already  sufficient,  and  would  at 
once  admit  the  candidate  to  full  membership  in  our  body, 
stretch  forth  his  hand." 

And  such  a  showing  of  hands !  They  flew  out  and  up 
as  if  from  a  catapult.  Some  voted  with  two  hands. 
Some,  not  content  with  a  simple  uplifting,  made  their 
hands  shake  and  triumph  in  the  air.  Even  the  Best 
voted  with  the  rest. 

"Your  mind  is  clear/^  cried  the  president.     "By 


160  THE   MATRICULATION. 

your  vote,  and  witliout  dissent,  this  gentleman  is  now  a 
member  in  full  of  this  university.  In  your  name  ''  (as  he 
advanced  toward  Aleph  with  outstretched  hand)  ''  I,  Pub- 
lius  Cornelius,  offer  greetings  and  fellowship  to^^ — and 
he  hesitated. 

"Aleph  the  Chaldean,"  said  Aleph,  as  he  gracefully 
took  the  proffered  hand. 

Seti  remained  sitting  for  a  while  longer,  keenly 
watching,  as  many  of  the  young  men  gathered  about 
Aleph  and  were  introduced  to  him  by  Cornelius.  Among 
these  were  the  Best ;  who  were  at  first  somewhat  back- 
ward and  awkward,  but  whom  Aleph  so  welcomed  with 
frank  and  unpretending  cordiality  that  they  were  soon 
quite  at  ease.  Seti  watched  and  admired.  He  saw  that 
the  young  man  had  quite  won  those  who  might  easily 
have  become  his  enemies — in  short  had  fairly  conquered 
the  position  he  had  coveted  for  him. 

Aleph  lingered  till  the  other  students  had  left  that  he 
might  inquire  of  Seti  whether  he  had  heard  from  Miriam 
that  morning.  He  had  not ;  but  was  not  sure  but  that 
he  might  hear  something  by  going  to  his  rooms.  Would 
not  Aleph  and  his  friend  accompany  him? 

As  they  approached  the  apartments  of  the  high-priest 
they  saw  before  them  in  the  distance  what  seemed  the 
fluttering  of  female  robes:  and,  as  soon  as  Seti  had 
opened  his  door,  he  found  himself  in  the  arms  of  his 
grand-daughter. 

"  Mother-father  "  (this  was  her  favorite  style  of  ad- 
dress), she  exclaimed,  looking  up  fondly  into  his  face, 
*'  are  you  not  very  tired  after  such  a  long  session?  But 
what  a  good  lecture  that  was,  and  then " 

"Ah,  child,"  he  hastily  interrupted  as  he  patted  her 


THE    MATRICULATION.  161 

cheek,  *'what  a  flatterer  you  are!  Why  not  begin  to 
practice  on  my  lecture  by  telling  me  the  truth?  Tired! 
Antiquity  is  never  tired.  The  tired  ones  are  your  mod- 
erns— such  young  men  as  you  may  see  behind  me." 

Cimon  was  surprised  at  the  magnificent  beauty  that 
now  disengaged  herself  from  the  arms  of  Seti  and  stood 
blushing  before  them.  Aleph  had  indeed  spoken  of  her 
as  beautiful,  but  with  no  particularity  and  effusion :  and 
so  he  was  not  prepared  for  the  lovely  vision.  It  seemed 
to  him  for  a  moment  as  if  he  had  before  him  one  of  the 
Hellenic  goddesses — a  sort  of  compound  of  Aphrodite  and 
Athene  and  Artemis.  As  to  Aleph — such  a  look  of  glad 
recognition  sprang  to  his  face  at  the  unexpected  meeting 
that  she  could  not  but  notice  it.  It  gave  her  courage  to 
advance  and  give  her  hand  to  Cimon,  saying,  "The 
daughter  of  Alexander  gratefully  remembers  our  friend 
of  the  Diapleuston  " — to  then  turn  to  Aleph  with  a  wel- 
coming look  and  a  new  flush  on  her  cheek  as  she  said, 
"  You  see  one  has  to  make  much  of  her  grandfather,  es- 
pecially when  she  has  but  one.  Perhaps  you,  too,  have 
a  mother-father  and  know  how  good  it  is  to  have  him." 

"  The  lady  has  guessed  rightly,"  returned  the  young 
man.  "  The  last  thing  I  did  when  leaving  my  country 
was  to  bow  my  tearful  face  on  the  shoulder  of  a  white- 
haired  man  whose  form  was  not  bent,  nor  eye  dim,  nor 
natural  force  abated,  though  he  had  long  passed  his  cen- 
tury ;  and  who  laid  his  hand  on  my  head  and  sent  me 
away  with  the  blessing  of  a  grand  sire.  God  willing,  I 
shall  see  him  again.  The  mother-fathers  of  Chaldea  live 
long." 

"  May  the  God  of  Chaldean  Abraham  grant  it,"  said 
the  maiden  devoutly. 


/ 

162  THE   MATRICULATION. 


(C 


'And  grant  also  that  I  may  carry  back  to  him  the 
news  he  has  so  long  waited  for — that  the  Desire  of  all  na- 
tions has  at  last  come !  " 

"Amen,"  said  Kachel;  *'  and,  according  to  my  prom- 
ise, I  have  something  new  to  tell  you  touching  that  mat- 
ter. So  come  with  me,  all  of  you — I  mean  yoti,  mother- 
father,^'  and  she  threw  a  graceful  gesture  at  Seti  as  she 
led  the  way  to  seats  near  a  window. 

While  the  young  people  had  been  talking,  Seti,  with 
folded  arms,  had  kept  his  eyes  fastened  on  them  as  if  by 
some  irresistible  attraction.  Rousing  himself  at  the  call 
of  Rachel,  he  said  to  Cimon  with  a  smile,  "  In  these  days 
the  Egyptian  is  in  bondage  to  Israel,"  and  added  as  he 
closed  the  door  and  followed,  "and  is  not  very  discon- 
tented— certainly  not  enough  to  make  an  exodus." 

When  they  were  seated,  Rachel  said  to  Aleph,  "I 
promised  that  if  I  obtained  any  new  facts  about  Jesus  I 
would  communicate  them  to  you.  And  this  is  what  I 
have  heard  this  morning." 

She  then  proceeded  to  say  that  on  her  way  to  the 
Serapeum  she  had  seen  Miriam,  found  that  her  husband 
had  not  appeared,  found  that  she  had  improved  so  much 
that  she  was  able  to  tell  her  sad  story  since  her  marriage. 
She  had  first  gone  with  her  husband  to  Tyre,  where  he 
professed  to  have  property.  After  a  few  days  he  removed 
her  to  a  small  house  near  the  city.  This  was  the  first  of 
a  succession  of  removals  east  and  south.  They  never 
stopped  long  in  a  place — never  lived  in  any  but  the  poor- 
est and  obscurest  part  of  a  place.  She  never  knew  her 
husband  do  any  work,  or  seek  for  any.  She  often  won- 
dered at  first  how  he  obtained  such  scanty  and  irregular 
supplies  as  they  had.     Once  when  she  asked  him  about 


THE    MATRICULATION.  1C3 

the  matter,  he  said  that  he  was  living  on  his  property ; 
and  accompanied  the  information  with  such  a  storm  of 
abuse  that  she  never  after  dared  to  refer  to  the  subject. 
She  did  not  need  to  do  so.     He  was  abroad  much  at 
night ;  and  she  noticed  that  when  abroad  during  the  day 
he  shunned  thoroughfares,  and  sometimes  disguised  him- 
self.    Moreover,  the  men  whom  he  brought  to  the  house 
were  of  the  lowest  sort,  and  she  could  not  well  avoid 
overhearing  enough  of  their  talk  to  assure  her  that  they 
agreed  in  thinking  that  property  was  robbery  and  might 
be  taken  wherever  it  could  be  found.     After  the  first  few 
weeks  he  cast  off  all  semblance  of  regard  for  her.     He 
would  often  leave  her  for  weeks  without  any  means  of 
support ;  and  had  it  not  been  for  the  compassion  of  the 
poor  people  about  her  she  would  have   starved.     As  it 
was,  her  suffering  from  exposure,  privation,  and  remorse 
reduced  her  almost  to  a  skeleton.     Ah,  what  days  those 
were !     She  shuddered  when  she  spoke  of  them.     Such 
wretched  living  as  they  had  was  gotten  by  robbery,  and 
sometimes  by  murder.     He  no  longer  pretended  the  con- 
trary.    She  came  to  know  that  their  frequent  changes  of 
place  were  made  necessary  by  his  crimes.     As  soon  as  he 
found  himself  an  object  of  suspicion,  he  went  to  a  new 
place  and  there  repeated  his  thefts  and  burglaries  until 
his  safety  required  him  to  move  on.     In  this  way  they 
slowly  drifted  from  the  Phenician  coast  to  the  Sea  of 

Galilee. 

She  now  thinks  that  she  could  not  have  lived  through 
that  awful  pilgrimage  had  it  not  been  for  one  thing. 
Wherever  she  went  she  met  with  poor  people  who  had 
been  cured  of  some  incurable  ail  by  the  new  prophet 
Jesus — cured  by  a  touch  or  a  word.     Sometimes  it  was  a 


1G4  THE   MATRICULATION. 

piilsy,  sometimes  consumption,  sometimes  leprosy,  some- 
times blindness  or  deafness  or  a  lost  limb,  sometimes 
devils  or  death.  And  he  asked  nothing  in  return  for 
such  wonderful  deliverances.  Of  course  all  mouths  were 
full  of  his  praises.  They  told  of  his  gentle  and  compas- 
sionate ways ;  how  he  did  not  disdain  publicans  and  sin- 
ners, saying  that  he  came  to  seek  and  save  the  lost :  how 
he  took  little  children  in  his  arms  and  caressed  and 
blessed  them  ;  how  patiently  and  wisely  and  wonderfully 
he  taught  the  humblest  as  well  as  the  highest — told  of 
such  things  till  her  heart  burned  and  ached  to  see  him, 
to  be  near  him,  to  pour  out  her  oppressed  soul  into  his 
pitiful  ears. 

At  last  her  wish  was  accomplished.  One  day,  while 
they  were  living  at  Chorasin,  after  some  new  tempest  of 
abuse  and  wickedness  from  her  husband,  she  slipj^ed  away 
into  the  fields  to  give  vent  to  her  grief  and  despair. 
There  she  saw  in  the  distance  a  number  of  people  on  an 
eminence :  and,  on  mounting  a  rock,  she  saw  that  others 
were  moving  toward  the  eminence  from  all  directions.  It 
flashed  upon  her  that  perhaps  Jesus  had  come,  and  that 
now  was  her  opportunity.  She  at  once  made  for  the  hill 
— determined  that  if  indeed  Jesus  was  there  she  would 
get  as  near  to  him  as  possible.  She  felt  as  if  some 
mighty  loadstone  was  drawing  upon  her.  Being  unen- 
cumbered, she  sped  along  quickly,  passed  many  who  were 
carrying  sick  people  or  were  sick  themselves,  and  was  not 
long  in  assuring  herself  that  it  was  indeed  Jesus  toward 
whom  all  the  streams  of  infirmity  and  suffering  were  set- 
ting. 

She  quickened  her  steps  into  a  desperate  haste.  She 
flew  rather  than  ran — flew  to  the  side  of  the  hill  where 


THE   MATRICULATION.  165 

the  people  were  fewest,  pressed  through  them  as  if  on  an 
errand  of  life  and  death,  saw  one  who  was  plainly  the 
central  ligure,  fell  down  before  him  panting,  disheveled, 
eyes  streaming,  and  tried  to  look  up  through  her  tears 
into  his  face.  And  she  dimly  saw  there  such  gentleness, 
such  pity,  such  insight,  such  power,  that  a  great  wave  of 
rest  swept  in  on  her  soul  as  she  murmured.  Lord,  tliou 
knoiuest.  And  he  answered,  in  a  voice  strangely  sweet, 
that  somehow  seemed  to  penetrate  every  fibre  of  her  being. 

^'  Yes,  I  know,  thou  daughter  of  many  sorrows. 
Wait  patiently  for  the  hour  of  deliverance  which  will 
come  in  thy  own  country  by  the  hands  of  those  whom  I 
will  send.  Meanwhile  go  in  peace — thy  sins  be  forgiven 
thee." 

She  rose — all  the  harshness  and  bitterness  of  her 
soul  gone,  a  calmness  and  strength  and  peace  within  that 
were  indescribable.  She  did  not  withdraw  from  the 
scene ;  only  fell  back  among  the  crowd.  And  there  she 
saw  with  her  own  eyes  the  wonderful  things  done  of 
which  she  had  been  hearing  ever  since  she  landed  in 
Tyre.  It  seemed  as  if  the  whole  country  about  had 
searched  out  its  desperate  cases  and  brought  them  to- 
gether to  test  his  power  and  pity.  And  she  saw  that  no 
case  was  beyond  him.  Not  an  ail  in  all  the  throng  but 
had  instant  relief  as  he  touched  or  spoke.  The  number 
and  variety  of  the  miracles  almost  took  her  breath  away. 
When  the  last  sufferer  had  been  helped  she  could  no 
longer  contain  herself,  but,  as  if  filled  and  pressed  irre- 
sistibly by  a  heavenly  breath,  burst  forth  with  song,  "  0 
give  thanks  unto  the  Lord,  for  he  has  done  marvellous 
things:  "  and  all  the  people  joined  their  voices  to  hers 
till  the  country  side  rang. 


ICG  THE   MATRICULATIOK. 

She  went  back  to  her  husband,  but  not  to  her  misery. 
The  memory  of  that  look,  and  that  voice,  and  that  prom- 
ise was  like  a  strong  man  under  her  cross.  Her  husband 
was  no  better ;  they  still  drifted  from  place  to  place,  but 
always  with  a  compulsion  by  circumstances  toward  the 
south  and  west.  Her  strength  grew  less  as  they  ap- 
proached the  seacoast,  and  quite  broke  down  at  Joppa  as 
she  saw  her  husband,  as  he  was  hurrying  her  aboard  a 
vessel  for  Alexandria  in  the  night,  rob  and  kill  a  man; 
yet  even  then  the  memory  of  that  divine  hour  in  Galilee 
was  a  mighty  peace  in  her  heart,  and  she  felt  that  she  was 
on  her  way  to  deliverance. 

Said  Seti  to  Rachel,  after  the  few  moments  of  pro- 
found silence  that  followed  her  narrative,  *'  Did  you  ever 
notice  in  Miriam  in  former  days  any  tendency  to — exag- 
geration?^' 

"Never,"  she  replied.  ''On  the  contrary,  Miriam 
was  noted  for  great  care  not  to  overstate  facts.  You  may 
depend  upon  it,  grandfather,  she  is  fully  up  to  the 
standard  of  your  lecture.'' 

Seti  seemed  not  to  notice  this  sally,  and  the  accom- 
panying shadow  of  a  smile  that  flitted  across  the  shining 
face,  but  said,  "  To  say  nothing  of  his  marvellous  deeds, 
the  attention  which  Jesus  pays  to  the  lowly  and  uninflu- 
ential,  rather  than  to  the  great  and  powerful,  is  very  un- 
like what  one  would  expect  in  a  scheming  impostor." 

*'  That  he  is  not  that,"  said  Aleph,  *'  is  still  further 
confirmed  by  what  my  preceptor  and  friend  here  heard 
yesterday.  I  am  sure  you  will  agree  with  me  if  he  will 
tell  the  substance  of  what  Shaphan  of  the  gate  of  Cano- 
pus  related." 

All  wished  to  hear.     So  Cimon  proceeded  to  relate 


THE   MATRICULATION.  167 

the  story  of  Shaplum — omitting,  however,  the  circum- 
stances bearing  on  Mains,  and  one  or  two  other  particu- 
lars. 

When  he  had  finished,  Rachel  exclaimed,  "  How  won- 
derful all  this  is !  Surely  there  is  but  one  thing  to  be 
said,  unless  we  are  prepared  to  discredit  all  human  testi- 
mony !  I  have  heard  my  father  speak  of  Shaphan  as  a 
very  good  man :  I  must  see  him  and  ask  him  many  ques- 
tions." 

''Would  it  not  be  better,"  said  Seti,  "to  first  ques- 
tion some  expert  magician  as  to  what  he  can  do  by  his 
art?  It  is  not  incredible  that  there  should  be  beings  be- 
tween the  Supreme  and  ourselves  who  can  do  very  won- 
derful things." 

"  No,  my  dear  grandfather;  but  if  these  superior  be- 
ings are  good  they  will  not  lend  themselves  to  a  great  re- 
ligious imposture ;  and  if  they  are  bad  they  would  fight 
against  themselves  by  endorsing  such  teaching  and  doing 
such  works  as  those  of  Jesus.  Would  Satan  cast  out 
Satan?" 

"  Hardly.  Still,  have  not  magicians  sometimes  been 
good  men?  Perhaps  our  friends  here  can  throw  some 
light  on  that  matter.  Time  has  been  when  Chaldea  was 
famous  for  its   magicians" — and   Seti    looked    toward 

Aleph. 

"In  my  country,  as  in  Egypt,''  said  Aleph,  "the 
name  magicians  has  always  been  used  to  cover  all  stu- 
dents of  extensive  knowledge,  especially  all  students  of 
the  powers  and  processes  of  Nature.  As  to  such  persons 
as  profess  by  certain  arts  to  enlist  the  powers  of  mightier 
spirits  in  their  service  there  is,  at  least  at  present,  but 
cue  opinion  among  us,  and  that  a  very  unfavorable  one. 


168  THE    MATRICULATION. 

It  is  that  of  the  Hebrew  Scriptures  which  denounce  and 
forbid  all  magical  arts  under  heavy  penalties.  However 
it  may  be  with  others,  those  vi^ho  profess  to  accept  these 
Scriptures  and  at  the  same  time  use  magical  arts,  it 
seems  to  me,  cannot  be  good  men,  or  other  than  very 
bad.  This  is  the  case  of  Jesus.  As  I  understand  it,  he 
professes  to  hold  faithfully  by  Moses  and  the  prophets. 
This  being  so,  if  he  is  a  magician  he  is  one  of  the  worst 
of  men — especially  as  he  solemnly  declares  that  he  works 
his  wonders  not  by  magic,  but  by  God.^' 

^And  consequently,"  added  Cimon,  "all  evidence  we 
have  that  he  is  one  of  the  best  of  men  is  evidence  that  he 
is  not  a  magician." 

"And  what  evidence  of  this  sort  have  we?  "  asked  Seti. 

"At  least  we  can  say,"  returned  the  Greek,  "  that  no 
evidence  against  Jesus  has  yet  reached  us,  while  we  have 
heard  much  for  him.  We  have  heard  that  his  miracles 
are  wholly  beneficent  and  his  teachings  wholly  right- 
eous ;  and  that  the  worst  thing  his  enemies  can  say  of 
him  is  that  he  does  the  very  thing  the  prophets  said  the 
Christ  would  do,  viz.,  stoop  to  the  humblest  while  claim- 
ing with  the  highest.  For  myself,  I  would  also  lay  con- 
siderable stress  on  the  impression  which  the  mere  per- 
sonal presence  of  Jesus  makes  on  such  a  man  as  Sha- 
phan.  It  is  plain  to  me  that  this  man  would  profoundly 
believe  in  the  worth  of  Jesus,  even  if  he  had  not  seen  a 
single  miracle  of  his,  nor  heard  from  him  a  single  word. 
Is  this  unreasonable?  Two  or  three  times  in  the  course 
of  my  life,  I  have  been  similarly  impressed — I  have  had 
merely  to  look  into  the  eye  and  watch  for  a  few  moments 
the  play  of  the  features  to  get  an  immovable  confidence 
in  the  character  that  lay  behind  them.     Ordinary  good- 


THE   MATRICULATION.  1G9 

ness,  I  confess,  does  not  manifest  itself  in  this  royal  way ; 
nor  does  extraordinary,  except  under  certain  physical  or- 
ganizations ;  but  tliere  are  organizations  through  which 
it  is  self-revealing— through  which  it  looks  forth  as 
through  pure  crystal  and  shines  by  its  own  light,  as  does 
any  mathematical  axiom— through  which  it  is  able  to  put 
forth  a'  heavenly  atmosphere  into  which  at  least  a  sym- 
pathetic soul  cannot  enter  without  feeling  its  heavenly 
character." 

"  So  it  seems  to  me,''  said  Seti.  "  I,  too,  have  met  a 
case  or  two  of  that  sort." 

"The  venerable  Seti,"  said  Aleph;  "  has  doubtless 
met  with  many  so-called  magicians  in  this  land  of  the 
strange  and  mysterious.  May  I  ask  whether  he  has  ever 
met  one  who  has  claimed  to  do  his  prodigies  through  the 
Supreme  God,  or  to  do  them  in  such  vast  variety  and 
magnificence  as  are  conceded  to  Jesus?'' 

"Certainly  not,"  answered  the  Egyptian;  "and  I 
^m  quite  sure  that  if  we  could  get  together  all  the  pro- 
fessors of  the  magical  art  that  are  or  have  been,  they 
could  not,  all  together,  make  out  such  a  list  of  wonders  as 
is  conceded  to  Jesus." 

"I  would  also  ask  of  the  venerable  Seti,"  continued 
Aleph,  "  if  he  will  not  express  his  views  more  fully  as  to 
the  suggestion  of  the  lady  Rachel,  viz.,  that  it  is  incredi- 
ble that  bad  spirits  of  vast  intelligence  would  lend  their 
powers  to  give  currency  and  authority  to  a  system  of 
teaching  whose  whole  stress  they  must  see  to  be  to  defeat 
and  destroy  their  influence." 

"  It  is  incredible.  She  only  needs  to  show  that  the 
teaching  of  Jesus  is  plainly  and  thoroughly  against  the 
feelings  and  objects  of  evil  spirits." 


170  THE    MATRICULATION^. 

"  Why,  my  dear  grandfather,  all  the  accounts  agree 
that  Jesus  teaches  altogether  in  the  line  of  our  Scrip- 
tures, though  with  new  fullness  and  illustrations — and  no 
one  knows  better  than  you  how  holy  the  teachings  of  our 
Sacred  Books  are — exposing  the  devices  of  Satan,  de- 
nouncing him  and  all  his  works,  calling  to  watchfulness 
and  prayer  against  him,  rebuking  and  casting  out  his  de- 
mons, assailing  the  very  foundation  of  his  kingdom  in 
disloyalty  to  God,  binding  our  consciences  to  a  perpetual 
war  on  sin  in  both  life  and  heart,  threatening  it  with  the 
terrors  of  an  avenging  heaven." 

Seti  inclined  his  head  gravel}^  toward  the  maiden, 
whose  earnestness  was  now  glowing  in  her  face  and  add- 
ing to  it  new  charms,  but  was  silent. 

''The  lady  has  expressed  my  thought,"  said  Cimon. 
"  It  used  to  be  a  part  of  the  Roman  law,  and  I  presume 
is  so  still,  that  when  a  man  is  accused  of  doing  what 
would  neither  suit  his  passions  nor  his  interests,  the  ac- 
cusation may  be  dismissed  at  once.  It  is  incredible. 
Neither  men  nor  devils  act  against  all  motive." 

"Now,  great  teacher,"  cried  Rachel,  "it  is  time  to 
sum  up,  as  you  do  sometimes  in  your  lectures ;  and  (she 
brightly  shook  her  finger  at  Seti)  be  careful  to  sum  up 
on  the  right  side." 

"Which  of  course  means  your  side,"  said  the  Egyp- 
tian, with  a  slight  lifting  of  his  eyebrows Well, 

how  will  this  please  you? 

"Jesus,  it  is  universally  conceded,  has  done  many 
things  far  beyond  mere  human  power:  he  claims  for 
them  a  divine  origin :  they  are  worthy  of  such  an  origin 
in  the  grandeur  and  beneficence  of  their  character:  such 
an  origin  agrees  with  certain  ancient  predictions  appar- 


THE   MATRICULATION.  171 

ently  relating  to  these  times :  unless  they  have  such  an 
origin,  neither  had  the  miracles  of  Moses  and  the  other 
prophets;  and  indeed  it  seems  impossible  for  God  to  fur- 
nish reliable  credentials  to  any  messenger ;  for,  so  far  as 
we  can  see,  his  credentials  must  be  miracles  and  could 
not  well  be  greater  miracles  than  Jesus  has  wrought :  un- 
less they  have  a  divine  origin  they  are  demoniacal — which 
is  wholly  inconsistent  with  the  apparent  (say  certain) 
character  of  Jesus  and  also  with  his  teachings,  which  are 
such  as  no  evil  spirit  could  reasonably  be  supposed  will- 
ing to  promote Is   this   satisfactory?" — turning 

to  Rachel. 

'*  I  think  you  could  do  better;  but  that  will  do — will 
do  very  well  for  the  present,'^  she  returned  smiling; 
*' especially  as  you  have  gratuitously  supplied  some  miss- 
ing links  to  the  chain.  Go  on,  0  illustrious  house  of 
Seti  and  heir  of  all  the  Pharaohs,  I  have  great  hopes  of 
you  yet." 

*'You  see,  gentlemen,"  said  Seti,  ''what  comes  of 
teaching  our  daughters  to  know  and  argue  like  other  peo- 
ple. As  soon  as  we  furnish  them  with  arms  they  turn 
them  against  us.     And  this  they  call  gratitude !  " 

*'  But,"  he  added  gravely,  seeing  Cimon  rising  to 
take  leave,  "  if  your  affairs  now  call  you  away  I  wish  to 
make  an  inquiry  of  you — if  you  will  step  this  way." 

Cimon  followed  him  to  a  distant  part  of  the  room. 

After  a  little  hesitation,  Aleph  said  to  Rachel,  "  Your 
grandfather  has  surprised  me  very  much  in  this  conversa- 
tion. From  the  position  he  holds  I  should  have  thought 
such  views  on  his  part  impossible." 

"  There  is  a  mystery  about  the  matter,  I  confess,"  re- 
plied the  maiden;  ''  but  then  this  is  not  the  only  right- 


172  THE   MATRICULATION. 

eons  mystery  in  Alexandria  to-day " — and  her  eyes 
laughed  into  his  in  a  very  wonderful  way. 

"  Let  us  hope,"  said  he  with  an  answering  gleam 
from  eyes  quite  as  wonderful  though  mysteriously  differ- 
ent, "that  they  both  will  clear  up  satisfactorily  in  due 
time,  as  the  mystery  of  Jesus  seems  to  be  doing.  I  am 
grateful  to  you  for  what  I  have  heard  to-day.  But  I  would 
be  glad  to  speak  with  Miriam  myself.  Do  you  think  she 
will  be  strong  enough  to  bear  another  talk  to-day?" 

' '  Perhaps  so.  I  return  to  her  as  soon  as  my  sedan 
comes ;  and  if  you  will  accompany  me  we  will  see  what 
she  is  equal  to.  If  you  do  not  object,  I  wish  to  be  pres- 
ent when  you  question  her." 

"That  would  be  delightful  to  me  (and  a  new  light 
sprang  to  his  eyes  as  he  said  it) — especially  since  I  have 
come  to  know  that  you  have  mind  as  well  as  beauty,  and 
can  inquire  and  reason  with  the  best." 

He  said  this  as  if  half  soliloquizing,  _and  with  such  an 
air  of  glad  heartiness  that  she  at  once  felt  that  the  words 
had  in  them  nothing  of  the  emptiness  of  mere  compli- 
ment. 

She  hastened  to  say  timidly,  "  If  we  find  that  she  is 
not  able  to  talk  with  us  to-day,  we  can  arrange  to  see  her 
to-morrow  when  she  is  fresh.  Perhaps,  too,  she  will  then 
be  able  to  bear  removal  to  our  house  and — could  I  count 
on  your  aid  in  transferring  her,  for  my  brothers  are  away 
and  my  father  has  gone  to  Rome?  " 

"  How  gladly  I  agree  to  this  the  lady  Rachel,  I  trust, 
already  knows.  At  the  same  time,  I  must  confess,  I 
have  some  doubt  as  to  what  the  morrow  may  bring 
to  me ;  and  so  I  would  fain  do  as  much  as  I  can  to- 
day.' 


)} 


THE   MATRICULATION.  173 

"You  do  not  mean — I  trust  you  do  not  mean  dan- 
ger 9^^  and  she  looked  anxiously  at  him. 

Before  he  could  answer  a  knock  was  heard  at  the  door 
and  a  servant  entered  to  say  that  the  sedan  of  the  lady 
was  waiting  at  the  gate.  Rachel  hastily  prepared  for  the 
street.  Going  to  Scti,  who  now  stood  by  the  door,  she 
kissed  him  and — stood  embarrassed. 

"Well,  what  is  it,  my  Gem  of  Alexandria?"  said 
Seti.  "  What  can  we  do  for  you?  Do  you  want  the  old 
man  to  send  you  off  with  a  formal  blessing?  The  bless- 
ing of  a  heathen  is  not  worth  verj  much.'^ 

"  You  are  no  heathen,"  rejoined  the  maiden;  "and 
I  have  already  a  great  store  of  your  blessings  carefully 
laid  up  at  home  among  my  treasures.  Give  your  blessing 
to-day  to  these  friends  of  ours  who,  I  fear,  are  in  danger, 
and  who  have  deserved  well  at  our  hands.  You  are  wise 
and  powerful — protect  them,  or  you  and  I  will  have  to 
part  company.  I  hate  ingratitude  " — and  she  shook  her 
finger  at  him. 

"  By  the  way,"  she  added,  "  do  you  think  that  so  val- 
uable a  jewel  as  the  Gem  of  Alexandria  ought  to  pass 
along  the  street  without  an  escort?" 

"  I  was  about  to  offer  the  lady  my  escort  on  her  way 
as  far  as  Miriam,  whom  I  wished  to  question:  but  it 
seems  that  I  am  a  person  who  himself  needs  protection," 
said  Aleph  with  a  smile. 

"Judging  from  what  we  have  seen,  Aleph  the  Chal- 
dean is  remarkably  well  qualified  to  protect  himself,  to 
say  nothing  of  others,"  said  Seti  with  great  composure. 
Yes,  against  a  fair  enemy,"  protested  the  maiden ; 
but  against  others  one  needs  all  the  help  he  can  get 
from  both  earth   and   heaven.     What   I   want   of  you, 


17-4  THE   MATRICULATION. 

grandfather,  is  to  sec  that  earth  does  its  part.  If  you  do 
not,  I  promise  you  that  you  shall  see  how  a  woman  can 
bestir  herself." 

*'  Just  as  if  Seti  needed  all  this  eloquence,  child !  "  he 
said  reproachfully. 

"  Mother-father,  I  am  ashamed  of  myself.  I  know 
that  you  mean  nobly.  But  then  you  men  are  so  manly  that 
you  are  not  so  quick  as  a  woman  at  divining  the  presence 
of  danger,  though  far  better  at  meeting  it  when  discov- 
ered. At  least,  so  I  am  told ;  and  I  shall  not  deny  it  till 
necessary.     So  forgive  me,  and — do  as  I  say." 

I  am  not  sure,''  said  the  Egyptian  thoughtfully, 
but  that  both  of  you  are  right.  If  Rachel  must  return 
by  way  of  Miriam  an  escort  may  be  a  protection  to  her, 
as  Antis  is  capable  of  the  worst ;  and  to  be  seen  in  the 
streets  with  the  daughter  of  Alexander  may  in  the  end 
be  a  protection  to  Aleph  the  Chaldean,  for  it  will  show 
whom  it  may  concern  that  he  is  not  without  friends.  So 
go,  you  two — but  I  will  ask  our  friend  Cimon  to  remain 
a  while  longer.' 


)} 


VIII. 

THE    ESCORT. 

Ovd'  aXXo  6va<{>vXaKTov  ovSlu  wf  yvv^. 

— Anon. 

Nothing  is  so  hard  to  guard  as  a  ivoman. 


1.  Twin  serpents  fronn  Ten^ecios. 

2.  News  fronn.  Galilee. 

3.  An  escort  dealing  with  escorts. 

4.  Home  at  last. 


VIII. 

THE    ESCORT. 

TN  going  to  the  Serapeiim,  our  friends  had  noticed  near 
J-  the  gate  of  the  khan  the  Cretan  who,  as  agent  for 
Mains,  had  dealt  with  the  Phenician  dealer  in  dyes.  They 
recognized  him  readily,  though  he  turned  hastily  away  as 
they  approached  him.  The  cats^Miu  of  Makes !  they 
both  thought ;  and  would  perhaps  have  thought  no  more 
of  it  had  not 

But,  on  going  a  little  farther,  whom  should  they  see 
but  Mains  himself  coming  toward  them  !  They  could  not 
be  mistaken— the  same  obese  figure,  the  same  waddlino- 
gait,  the  same  wooden  face  and  gimlet  eyes.  He  stopped 
almost  immediately  at  a  fruiterer's  stall,  and  seemed  busy 
in  selecting  some  fruit  as  they  passed.  After  they  had 
passed  he  turned  and  watched  them.  They  did  not  turn 
to  notice  the  fact,  but  they  knew  it  all  the  same— knew 
that  Mains  had  tracked  them  to  their  quarters  and  made 
sure  of  a  close  connection  between  them. 

When  Aleph  came  out  with  Rachel  to  her  sedan,  he 
very  naturally  looked  about  to  see  if  he  was  still  under 
surveillance.  But  he  saw  only  the  porters  of  the  rich 
conveyance  that  waited  for  the  daughter  of  Alexander. 
Nor  did  he,  on  the  way  to  Miriam's,  as  he  walked  by  the 
side  of  the  chair  and  occasionally  exchanged  a  word  with 


178  THE    ESCORT. 

its  inmate,  observe  anything  but  that  courteons  general 
observation  which  a  very  distinguislied  looking  man  in 
honorable  attendance  on  a  great  lady  might  be  expected 
to  draw. 

There  was  one  interruption  on  the  way — a  pleasant 
one.  Rachel,  through  her  curtains,  happening  to  descry 
Shaphan  at  a  distance,  stopped  her  bearers  and  begged 
Aleph  to  beckon  the  Jew  to  them.  He  promptly  crossed 
the  street.  The  lady  gave  him  her  hand  and  said  that 
she  had  been  hearing  with  great  interest  the  story  of  his 
visit  to  Judea,  but  wished  to  hear  it  again  at  first  hand. 
Could  he  not  go  with  them  a  short  distance  to  where  her 
nurse  lived  and  there  gratify  her  ?  He  could  :  in  fact, 
his  brother,  who  had  just  returned  from  Judea,  and  him- 
self were  even  now  returning  from  the  Egyptian  khan 
near  the  Serapeum,  whither  they  had  gone  for  the  purpose 
of  seeing  the  young  Chaldean  (he  bowed  to  Aleph)  and 
his  friend,  and  communicating  some  new  information 
about  the  Messiah. 

Aleph  expressed  his  gratification  at  the  meeting,  and 
warmly  seconded  the  lady^s  request.  So  Shaphan  beck- 
oned to  his  brother,  and  the  two  followed  the  chair  to  the 
house  of  Miriam. 

They  found  the  door  guarded  by  a  stout  servant  of 
Alexander,  and  by  bars  still  stouter.  It  appeared  that 
Antis  had  lately  been  there,  demanded  admittance,  and, 
on  being  refused,  had  become  violent,  tried  to  break  open 
the  door,  and  finally  had  gone  away  threatening  to  return 
shortly  with  authority  and  force  that  could  not  be  resisted. 

Aleph  suggested  that  the  sedan  be  brought  within  the 
house.  Should  violence  be  used  it  might  be  well  to  add 
the  porters  to  the  resisting  force. 


THE   ESCORT.  179 

They  found  that  Miriam  liad  been  so  agitated  by  the 
attempt  of  her  husband  that  she  was  unfit  for  the  further 
conversation  that  Aleph  desired.  But  with  so  many 
friends  now  about  her  she  was  in  a  restful  state  ;  and 
when  Rachel  proposed  that,  if  it  would  not  tire  her  too 
much,  Shaphan  and  his  brother  should  give  an  account 
of  their  visit  to  Palestine  and  Jesus,  she  declared  that  she 
could  well  endure  it.  Indeed,  it  would  strengthen  her. 
To  hear  of  Jesus  again  would  be  as  cool  water  to  a  thirsty 
soul. 

So  Shaphan  told  again  the  story  with  which  we  are 
already  familiar — told  it,  however,  with  omission  of  the 
part  relating  to  Mains ;  for  Aleph  had  suggested  that  all 
the  servants,  excepting  the  door-keeper,  should  be  present 
at  the  recital.  *'  This  was  a  matter  that  concerned  every- 
body.^' 

When  Shaphan  had  finished,  his  brother  Nathan 
added  substantially  the  following  account : 

After  the  departure  of  his  brother,  he  had  remained  a 
few  days  longer  with  Jesus,  listening  to  his  teaching  and 
seeing  further  examples  of  his  wonderful  power.  Two  of 
these  examples  were  specially  impressive. 

One  day,  as  the  night  drew  on,  Jesus,  who  had  been 
teaching  the  people  from  a  boat  belonging  to  his  disciples, 
was  overheard  saying  to  them.  Let  tis  go  over  to  the  other 
side.  Whereupon  they  put  out  into  the  lake  and  headed 
for  Gadara.  Some  of  his  hearers,  of  whom  Nathan  was 
one,  hating  to  part  comjiany  with  him  for  even  a  short 
time,  immediately  sprang  into  another  boat  and  followed. 
Soon  the  night  shut  down — one  of  the  blackest  nights 
ever  known.  Jesus'  boat  could  no  lonc^er  be  seen.  Sud- 
denly  the  wind  rose  into  a  gale.     It  wrestled  with  the  sea 


180  THE    ESCORT. 

like  a  iriant ;  and  the  sea  rose  in  its  wrath  and  wrestled 
back  again  with  a  mighty  ontcry.     For  a  moment  they 
wonld  lie  breathless  in  each  other's  arms  ;  and  then,  re- 
viving, fling  themselves  madly  at  each  other  in  mortal 
duel.     It  was  an  awful  scene.     It  seemed  as  if  all  the 
demons  were  abroad.     The  waters  which,  when  they  em- 
barked, were  almost  without  discernible  wrinkle,  were  now 
furrowed  into  mighty  chasms  by  the  plow  of  the  storm 
king.     Up  went  the  little  boat  to  heaven  on  the  thunder- 
ing billow  ;    down  it  went  into  a  hell  of  Avaters  as  thun- 
derous.    The  watery  monsters  shook  their  white  manes 
and  lashed  their  black  sides  and  leaped  at  and  over  their 
prey  with  open  jaws.     They  laughed  to  scorn  oar  and 
rudder  and  seamanship.     They  shouted,  and  howled  and 
shrieked,  and  seemed  to  swear  by  the  Eternal  to  the  help- 
less crew,  ^'  We  have  you  now  ;  nothing  can  save  you  ;  to- 
morrow your  corpses  will  be  drifting  silently  about  ;  no, 
nothing  can  save  you,  not  even  the  mighty  Christ."   Such 
blaspheming,    frantic,    frightful   madhouse   of   the    ele- 
ments— who  ever  saw  the  like  !     Not  Nathan  and  his 
companions.     It  seemed  to  them  as  if  hell  had  emptied 
itself  on  the  sea  of  Galilee  ;  and  that  all  the  fiends,  astride 
of  whirlwinds  and  crested  billows,  were  fiercely  battling 
together  for  the  privilege  of  drowning  every  living  thing. 
They  struggled.     They  prayed.     They  were  in  despair. 
Drenched,  rudderless,  oarless,  they  clung  to  the  sides  of 
the  fast  filling  boat  in  a  paroxysm  of  horror  and  helpless- 
ness.    In  a  few  moments  all  would  be  over.     They  com- 
mended their  souls  to  God. 

What  noise  was  that  ?  Off  at  their  right,  hidden  in 
the  darkness,  evidently  was  another  crew  of  affrighted 
and  sinking  men,  crying  out  in  their  extremity.     Can 


THE   ESCORT.  181 

they  be  Jesus  and  his  disciples  ?  Are  they  too  in  the  very 
jaws  of  death  ?  Cannot  he  who  has  done  such  great 
things  manage  to  save  his  own,  to  save  himself  ?  Or  are 
these  rao-ing,  howling  elements  a  field  to  which  his  power 
does  not  extend  ?  Such  thoughts  flashed  through  the 
mind  of  Nathan  even  as  he  seemed  on  the  point  of  being 
swallowed  up.  But  just  then  he  distinctly  heard  (for  the 
boats  had  neared  each  other)  a  distressful  voice  which  he 
recognized  as  that  of  one  of  the  disciples,  exclaiming, 
Lord,  save  us,  we  perish  ! 

''  Can  he  do  it  ?  If  so,  why  has  he  not  interfered 
before  ?  Why  permit  such  a  horrible  fright  to  his 
friends  ?  No,  he  cannot  do  it.  Jesus  has  at  last  found  his 
master.  There  seems  the  exultation  of  conscious  omnipo- 
tence and  universal  mastery  in  the  leapings  and  thunder- 
ings  of  this  hurricane-tossed  sea  ! " 

Such  thoughts  rushed  upon  Nathan  as  fiercely  as  the 
tempest  itself— as  if  Satan  himself  were  riding  the  storm 
and  dashing  them  into  his  face  with  the  spray  and  foam. 
Still  he  was  all  ear  for  what  might  follow  that  cry  for 
help.  Clinging  to  the  side  of  the  boat  with  both  hands, 
he  kept  his  face  set  toward  where  the  other  boat  seemed 
to  be,  and  almost  stilled  his  heart-beat  as  he  listened.  It 
seemed  as  if  his  soul  had  gone  to  his  ears,  and  was  lean- 
ing forth,  as  men  sometimes  do  from  a  casement,  to  catch 
the  faintest  word  that  might  come  from  the  Master  in 
answer  to  the  despairing  cry  of  his  followers.  And  there 
came— a  faint  ripple  of  speech,  a  shadow  or  ghost  of  artic- 
ulate sound  almost  lost  amid  the  deafening  and  majestic 
outcries  of  the  storm  ?  No.  A  wailing  prayer  for  help 
to  One  above  the  clouds?  No.  A  quavering,  hesitating 
voice  as  of  one  doubtful  of  himself  and  of  the  issue  ?    No. 


182  THE   ESCORT. 

The  voice  that  came  was  so  clear,  so  penetrating,  so  dom- 
inant among  the  wild  noises  of  the  storm,  so  full  of  calm 
decision  and  unquestionable  authority  and  sovereign 
forces,  that  one  felt  sure  in  advance  of  what  the  result 
would  be. 

Peace — be  still  ! 

No  sooner  had  these  words  gone  forth  on  the  wrestling, 
roaring  winds  than  they  fell  dead  in  full  career.  No  sooner 
had  these  words  gone  forth  on  the  wrestling,  roaring  bil- 
lows that  went  charging  against  the  sky  with  their  crested 
battalions  than  they  sank  in  their  places  as  sinks  the  ox 
when  smitten  on  the  forehead  by  the  axe  of  some  mighty 
man.  And  there  was  a  great  calm.  Hardly  a  ripple  was 
left  in  sea  or  air.  What  a  sudden  silence  !  In  an  instant 
the  demons  of  the  storm  had  not  only  taken  flight,  but 
were  already  beyond  hearing  and  sight.  And,  looking 
up,  Nathan  and  his  companions  saw  that  even  the  clouds 
had  wholly  fled,  and  left  the  stars  looking  down  on  them 
as  peacefully  as  if  nothing  had  happened,  or  ever  would 
happen  again.  And  off,  a  little  way,  the  starlight  was 
softly  shimmering  on  a  summer  sea,  on  gently  plashing 
oars,  on  a  boat  and  boatmen,  and  in  the  stern  on  the  emi- 
nent form  of  Him  who  had  now  shown  himself  King  of 
Nature  as  well  as  King  of  men. 

Nathan  and  his  companions  reached  the  shore  very 
soon  after  Jesus.  They  had  scarcely  landed  and  joined 
him  when,  from  one  of  the  cave-tombs  that  skirt  the  shore, 
there  rushed  toward  them  a  figure  that  seemed  scarcely 
human.  He  came  as  if  driven  by  the  tempest  that  had 
just  maddened  the  lake.  He  was  himself  a  tempest  of  the 
most  frightful  kind— as  appeared  when  he  drew  near.  He 
was  quite  naked.     His  face  and  body  were  covered  with 


THE   ESCORT.  183 

scars  and  filth  and  fresh  blood.  In  his  hands  he  carried 
sharp  stones,  with  which  he  beat  and  cut  himself  as  he 
shrieked  and  ran.  His  long  hair  streamed  in  the  wind 
and  seemed  like  a  cluster  of  flying  serpents  biting  at  his 
brain.  And  when  he  came  near — ah,  what  an  expression 
in  those  fiery  eyes  and  tormented  features  !  It  was  as  if 
hell  itself,  with  all  its  fiendishness  and  misery,  had  been 
condensed  into  that  aAvful  face.  Nathan  had  seen  not  a 
few  demoniacs  before,  but  never  such  a  specimen  as  this. 
The  very  recollection  made  him  shudder.  The  possibility 
of  such  suffering  and  such  wickedness  as  were  pictured  in 
that  face  had  never  before  entered  his  mind. 

The  man  came  directly  toward  Jesus  with  frantic  leaps 
and  cries,  as  if  to  destroy  him — as  he  seemed  well  able  to 
do  ;  such  were  the  wonderful  activity  and  strength  he  dis- 
played. But  Jesus,  standing  a  little  in  advance  of  his 
disciples,  calmly  awaited  the  coming.  His  face  was  an- 
other wonder  to  see.  It  was  sublime — it  was  divine. 
Such  unutterable  calm,  such  boundless  pity,  such  inex- 
haustible resources  of  force  and  authority  and  sovereignty 
spoke  in  every  feature  that  Nathan  could  not  but  say  to 
himself,  Lo,  God  is  here. 

The  monster  sank  on  his  knees  under  the  spell  of  that 
divine  gaze — uttering  a  fearful  cry  as  of  many  voices 
crushed  into  one. 

"  What  is  thy  name  ?  "  said  Jesus. 

And  through  the  parted  but  unmoving  lips  of  the 
madman,  and  as  if  from  deep  within,  came  a  mystery  of 
speech  that  said  : 

'^  My  name  is  Legion,  for  we  are  many.  What  have 
we  to  do  with  thee,  thou  Son  of  God  most  High  ?  Art 
thou  come  hither  to  torment  us  before  the  time  ?    If 


184  THE   ESCORT. 

thou  cast  us  out,   suffer  us  to  go  into  yonder  herd  of 
swine/' 

Jesus  said,  Go  ! 

Promptly  at  the  word,  the  crowd  of  evil  spirits  that 
had  captured  that  body,  bound  its  inhabitant,  and  seized 
the  reins  of  power,  fled  headlong.  Nathan  knew  it  from 
the  mighty  change  that  at  once  flashed  over  the  demoniac. 
The  monster  became  a  man.  The  face  just  now  terrible 
with  the  lightnings  of  hellish  passions,  more  terrible  than 
the  storm  on  the  Sea  of  Galilee  or  any  other  sea,  suddenly 
became  a  new  face — transformed  almost  beyond  recogni- 
tion into  repose,  sanity,  sweetness,  joy.  Nathan  was 
astonished  at  the  transfiguration.  He  could  not  help 
crying  out.  Glory  to  God!  and  his  heart  cried  louder 
than  his  lips.  He  had  seen  dispossessions  before  ;  and 
they  were  delightful  things  to  see.  But  he  had  never 
before  seen  a  man  delivered  from  an  entire  synagogue  of 
devils,  from  the  Nemesis  of  a  whole  army  of  evil  spirits. 
That  was  a  deliverance  past  speech.  That  was  an  exodus 
to  bring  out  the  sun  in  the  face  of  a  man. 

The  man  was  saved,  but  the  swine  were  lost.  For  the 
whole  herd  of  about  two  thousand,  just  now  stolidly  feed- 
ing along  the  steep  bank,  pricked  up  their  ears,  stood 
snuffing  the  air,  and  then,  as  if  possessed  by  as  many 
whirlwinds,  rushed  headlong  down  the  steep  into  the  lake 
and  perished.  The  disciples  understood  the  judgment  as 
well  as  the  mercy.  Those  swine,  kept  contrary  to  the 
law,  and  serving  as  a  standing  defiance  of  the  law 
through  all  that  region,  were  felt  to  have  been  justly  con- 
fiscated. But  the  owners  were  naturally  sore  at  the  loss 
of  their  property,  and  others  were  afraid  of  like  losses  ; 
and  so  they  persuaded  the  people  of  the  district  to  go  in 


THE   ESCORT.  185 

a  body  to  Jesus  and  beg  him  to  leave.  The  people  did 
it — though  they  saw  the  man  who  had  been  the  terror  of 
the  whole  country-side  sitting  at  the  feet  of  Jesus,  clothed 
and  in  his  right  mind.  Strange  infatuation  !  The  peo- 
ple themselves  were  possessed.  The  evil  spirits  that  had 
forsaken  the  man,  and  forsaken  the  swine,  had  entered 
into  them. — as  a  legion  of  fools.  Jesus  did  not  refuse  their 
suicidal  request.  So  the  two  boats  immediately  returned 
to  Capernaum. 

This  ended  Nathan's  visit  to  Jesus.  He  left  the  same 
day  for  Egypt — left  with  stronger  faith  than  ever  in  Jesus 
as  the  Messiah.  The  absence  of  all  the  usual  magical 
preparations  for  his  wonders,  the  exceeding  magnitude 
and  variety  of  them,  the  magnificent  ease  with  which 
they  were  performed,  the  fearless  manner  in  which  they 
were  exposed  to  the  blaze  of  public  observation,  the  uni- 
versal consent  to  their  reality  on  the  part  of  even  his  worst 
enemies,  the  plain  antagonism  of  his  whole  teaching  to 
the  idea  that  they  were  of  Satanic  origin,  together  with 
the  sovereign  and  divine  expression  that  reigned  in  his 
mien  while  doing  them,  seemed  conclusive.  It  seemed 
impossible  for  any  fair-minded  man  to  look  into  that  face 
and  watch  its  expressions  without  getting  the  impression 
of  unutterable  genuineness  and  goodness.  He  could  doubt 
neither  the  reality  nor  the  divine  origin  of  the  miracles  of 
Jesus. 

But,  somehow,  the  people  at  large  were  not  impressed 
as  he  was.  They  were  getting  used  to  the  wonderful 
works.  And  the  leaders  of  the  peojile  were  industriously 
encouraging  the  idea  of  a  Satanic  agency  in  them — and 
with  growing  success.  About  the  Sea  of  Galilee,  where 
most  of  his  mighty  works  are  done,  Jesus  has  very  few 


186  THE   ESCORT. 

who  believe  in  him.  He  does  not  conform  to  the  current 
notion  of  what  the  Messiah  sliould  be.  He  gives  no  en- 
couragement to  2)olitical  unrest ;  he  makes  no  attempt  to 
form  a  political  party,  collects  no  military  stores,  gathers 
no  army,  assumes  no  state.  He  seems  to  aim  at  no  worldly 
grandeur  for  himself  or  nation.  He  has  even  been  under- 
stood to  say  that  rejection  and  suffering  and  even  death 
await  him — that,  in  short,  his  kingdom  is  not  of  this 
world.  This  is  very  unsatisfactory  to  the  people  at  large. 
If  he  would  only  proclaim  a  temporal  kingdom,  set  up  the 
standard  of  revolt  against  Rome,  and  summon  the  people 
to  rally  about  it,  no  doubt  they  would  rush  to  him  at 
once.  But  as  it  is,  they  will  go  from  him.  So  it  seemed 
to  Nathan  as  he  watched  the  people  ;  and  so  it  seemed  to 
him  it  would  be  as  he  read  the  prophets.  The  more  he 
studied  them  the  more  inclined  was  he  to  think  that  they 
had  been  misunderstood. 

"I  think  very  much  as  you  do,"  said  Aleph,  '^and 
shall  not  be  at  all  surprised  if  Jesus  the  Messiah  should 
prove  a  Sacrifice  as  well  as  a  king.  King  he  certainly  is 
— king  of  devils,  king  of  diseases,  king  of  the  elements, 
king  of  teachers " 

Here  he  was  interrupted  by  the  door-keeper,  who  came 
to  say  that  through  the  eyelet  of  the  door  he  could  see 
Antis  approaching  with  what  seemed  a  police  force. 

'^  Oh,  do  not  let  him  enter,"  exclaimed  Miriam  in  great 
distress  ;  ^^  if  he  enters  I  shall  die.  You  do  not  know  all 
I  know."  And  she  raised  herself  in  the  bed  and  wrung 
her  hands  in  an  agony  of  apprehension. 

^'  Do  not  disturb  yourself,"  said  Aleph  calmly. 
'*  Though  we  do  not  know  all,  we  know  enough.  But 
Jesus  knew  it  all,  and  you  have  his  promise.    Trust  it  and 


THE   ESCORT.  187 

reserve  such  strength  as  you  have  till  it  is  needed.  We 
will  not  desert  you."" 

A  violent  blow  on  the  street-door  was  now  heard. 

"I  will  go  to  the  door,"  said  Aleph,  ''and  if  I  need 
any  help  you  will  discover  it,  as  I  will  leave  the  passage 
open  so  that  you  can  hear  what  is  passing." 

Taking  his  cane,  he  proceeded  to  the  door ;  and,  bid- 
ding the  door-keeper  undo  the  fastenings,  he  suddenly  set 
the  door  widely  open  and  stood  in  its  place. 

This  was  unexpected.  Antis  was  just  in  the  act  of  re- 
peating his  blow  on  the  door,  but  suddenly  finding  him- 
self confronted  by  a  formidable  looking  man  instead  of  a 
door,  he  stepped  hastily  backward. 

''What  do  you  seek,"  demanded  Aleph,  fixing  on  the 
man  a  stern  eye,  "  that  you  knock  in  so  unbecoming  a 
manner  ?  " 

"  I  seek  the  possession  of  my  own  house,"  said  the  fel- 
low sullenly. 

"Are  you  the  owner  of  this  house  ?  I  think  you  will 
hardly  venture  to  claim  that." 

"  I  claim  that  I  have  purchased  the  right  of  an  owner, 
so  far  as  occupying  this  house  is  concerned,  for  one  month, 
and  that  it  is  the  will  of  the  owner  that  I  have  possession 
at  once." 

"  Show  me  that  such  is  the  will  of  the  owner. '^ 

Antis  produced  a  paper  and  handed  it  to  Aleph. 

After  reading  it,  Aleph  said,  "  It  seems  that  this  house 
belongs  to  Mains,  and  that  he  wishes  it  transferred  to  you, 
and  that  he  has  sent  this  police  force  which  I  see  behind 
you  to  enforce  his  wishes,  if  necessary. — Are  you  the  cap- 
tain of  this  force  ?  "  he  added,  looking  at  a  man  who  stood 
a  few  steps  behind  Antis. 


188  THE  ESCORT. 

"  I  am/'  he  said. 

*'In  ordinary  cases/"  said  Alei")li  slowly,  as  he  surveyed 
the  man — ^'in  ordinary  cases  we  should  be  warranted  in 
putting  you  in  immediate  possession ;  but  this  case  is  ex- 
traordinary— so  extraordinary  that  we  have  a  right  to  pre- 
sume that  neither  Mains  nor  the  chief  of  the  police  under- 
stood the  circumstances  when  they  gave  the  order  just 
shown  me."' 

^'We  have  no  discretion/'  said  the  captain.  "We  are 
sent  here  to  put  this  man  in  possession,  not  to  judge  of 
the  righteousness  of  it." 

^'  Do  you  mean  to  say  that  if  you  should  see  reason  to 
believe  that  your  force  of  some  six  men  is  quite  insuffi- 
cient to  accomplish  your  object,  you  would  not  be  at  lib- 
erty to  return  to  your  superiors  for  further  instructions? 
Are  you  not  expected  to  use  discretion  in  judging  whether 
such  is  the  case  ?  " 

"  Certainly  :  but  such  does  not  appear  to  be  the  pres- 
ent case/"  said  the  officer  with  a  chuckle. 

AVithout  noticing  the  manner  of  the  man,  Alepli  went 
on,  "  Do  you  mean  to  say  that  if  you  should  see  grave 
reason  to  fear  that  this  man  in  whose  behalf  you  are  in- 
terfering would  use  the  house  to  waylay  and  murder  Mains 
and  your  chief,  you  would  not  be  warranted  in  at  least 
returning  for  further  instructions  ?  "" 

''Well — in  such  a  case  as  you  suppose,  I  should  of 
course  return :  but  this  is  not  such  a  case,  nor  anything 
like  it,'"  said  the  man  doggedly. 

"  Very  considerably  like  it :  for  I  shall  show  you  grave 
reason  to  fear  that  this  man""  (he  pointed  his  finger  at 
Antis)  ''is  capable  of  doing  all  that  and  worse — that  he 
is  a  desperado  of  the  worst  sort,  and— 


}) 


THE   ESCORT.  189 

Here  Antis  broke  in,  screaming  out,  It  is  false  !  It 
IS  false  !  ^' 

Aleph  fixed  on  him  eyes  that  blazed  calmly  into  his 
for  a  moment,  and  then  said  sternly,  ^'  You  know  it  is 
true,  you  ruffian.  It  is  written  in  your  face  for  everybody 
to  see.  And  everybody  sees  it.  If  you  want  to  be  taken 
for  anything  less  than  a  desperado,  wear  a  mask  over  your 
tell-tale  face.  So  do  not  interrupt  me  again  ; ''  and  he 
gave  him  another  look  so  full  of  insight  and  authority 
and  menace,  and  at  the  same  time  of  a  certain  pitying 
wonder  (as  the  man  who  walks  easily  finds  it  hard  to 
realize  that  anybody  else  is  lame,  so  the  good  man  finds  it 
hard  to  understand  how  anybody  can  be  a  villain),  that  he 
dropped  his  eyes,  grew  pale  and  red  by  turns,  and  made 
no  further  attempt  to  speak. 

Aleph  resumed,  turning  again  to  the  captain  :  ^^  I  was 
saying  that  I  would  show  you  grave  reason  for  thinking 
this  man  a  desperado  of  the  worst  kind ;  that  he  is  a 
robber  and  murderer  by  j^rofession  ;  that  if  put  in  posses- 
sion of  this  house  he  will  make  it  a  den  of  thieves  and 
murderers.  He  is  strongly  suspected  of  designs  on  the 
life  of  his  sick  wife,  who  for  some  days  has  been  in  a  crit- 
ical condition,  and  whom  he  has  long  abused.  It  is  for 
such  reasons  that  her  friends  have  excluded  him  from  the 
house.  Do  you  suppose  that  your  principals,  if  responsi- 
bly informed  of  these  facts,  would  persist  in  wishing  you 
to  hand  over  these  premises  and  the  sick  woman  to  such 
a  man  ?  " 

"  I  admit,"  answered  the  officer,  ''that  if  you  can  show 
that  he  is  such  a  dangerous  character,  and  that  putting 
him  in  possession  will  endanger  the  public  as  well  as  the 
sick  woman,  or  even  can  show  that  this  is  so  in  the  opin- 


190  THE   ESCORT. 

ion  of  responsible  parties,  I  ought  to  return  and  report 
tlie  fact  to  mj  superiors.  Who  are  the  persons  who  make 
these  charges  ? '' 

''His  wife,  supported  by  Seti,  the  Egyptian  high- 
priest,  the  lady  Rachel,  daughter  of  the  Alabarch,  and 
myself,  a  member  of  the  University. 

The  captain  had  for  some  time  appeared  uneasy.  He 
now  folded  his  arms,  shifted  repeatedly  from  one  foot  to 
another,  fumbled  aimlessly  with  the  short  sword  at  his 
side.  Aleph  watched  him  narrowly ;  and  at  length  said 
with  a  grave  irony  of  tone  : 

"  Perhaps  you  do  not  consider  Seti  and  the  Alabarch 
as  responsible  parties  ! " 

But  immediately  changing  his  tone  and  raising  his 
voice,  he  added,  ''I  call  to  witness  both  those  before  me 
in  the  street  and  those  behind  me  in  the  house '^  (half 
turning  as  he  spoke,  he  became  aware  that  he  had  already 
been  followed  into  the  passage  by  all  his  friends),  ''  that  I 
have  repeatedly  informed  this  officer  that  this  house  has 
been  occupied  by  parties  whose  responsibility  it  were  ab- 
surd to  question,  for  the  sole  purpose  of  preventing  its  be- 
coming a  danger  to  life  and  a  public  nuisance,  and  that  if 
he  puts  it  into  the  possession  of  this  man  he  will,  in  their 
opinion,  imperil  the  lives  and  property  of  the  people  of 
Alexandria.  I  wish  you  all  to  distinctly  notice  this.  Take 
notice,  also,  that  we  do  not  propose  to  resist  the  law — 
only  to  retain  possession  till  the  law  can  be  properly  in- 
formed of  facts  that  were  unknown  to  it  at  the  time  its 
order  was  given.  And  so  our  very  moderate  request  is 
that  this  officer  return  to  headquarters,  report  what  he 
has  heard,  and  ask  for  new  instructions.  If  the  officials 
then  repeat  their  order,  it  will  be  with  full  knowledge  of 


THE    ESCORT.  191 

the  responsibility  they  are  incurring,  and  they  can  prop- 
erly be  held  to  account  for  all  the  consequences  :  and  this 
must  be  a  very  serious  account  unless  the  laws  and  public 
opinion  of  Alexandria  differ  very  considerably  from  those 
of  Heaven/^ 

'^  It  is  he  of  the  Diapleuston  !  '^  cried  a  voice  from  the 
street.     "  Give  him  a  cheer  ! " 

And  a  great  cheer  there  was ;  for  though  the  street 
was  a  retired  one,  quite  a  body  of  spectators  had  gathered 
one  by  one  behind  the  police  and  were  watching  the  con- 
ference with  lively  interest.  They  now  showed  audibly 
on  which  side  their  partialities  had  settled.  That  cry.  It 
is  he  of  the  Diapleuston,  opened  their  mouths,  and  opened 
them  widely.  But,  long  before  they  had  chosen  their  side, 
Antis  made  a  very  sorry  ajDpearance  over  against  Ale^^h  ; 
and  as  the  citizens  watched  the  lofty  composure  of  the 
young  man  and  his  princely  bearing,  and  caught  a  glimpse 
of  Shaphan  and  Nathan  and  the  womanly  star  in  the  back- 
ground, they  thought  the  house  was  well  occupied  as  it 
was.  And  they  proceeded  to  say  so.  They  became  very 
free  in  expressing  their  minds. 

One  cried  out  scornfully,  ^'  Turning  out  such  to  put 
in  such  ! '' 

"  Go  away  ! "  cried  a  second,  as  he  shook  his  fist  ener- 
getically at  the  police. 

"  Off  with  you  ! "  shouted  a  third,  with  both  hands  in 
the  air,  and  with  the  air  of  one  driving  away  a  flock  of 
geese. 

^'Go  ! "  screamed  a  fourth,  '^and  you  may  confiden- 
tially tell  those  who  sent  you  that  you  were  not  mean 
enough,  as  well  as  not  strong  enough,  to  do  the  work  set 
you  ! " 


192  THE   ESCORT. 

And  so  the  cries  went  on  in  a  very  amusing  (to  the 
citizens)  and  significant  variety  —  went  on  growing  in 
strength  and  urgency. 

The  captain  phiinly  saw  that  but  one  course  was  open 
to  him.  He  must  make  a  virtue  of  necessity,  and  with- 
draw for  the  present  with  as  good  grace  as  he  could.  So 
he  said  that  perhajis  it  would  be  well  for  him  to  report  at 
headquarters  what  had  been  told  him,  and  see  what  his 
principals  thought  of  it.  Of  course,  they  did  not  intend 
to  establish  a  den  of  thieves  and  murderers.  So  off  he 
marched  with  his  detachment — Antis  closely  following 
with  a  face  in  which  fear  and  mortification  and  rage  were 
contending  for  the  mastery,  and  greeted  as  he  passed  with 
many  a  See  the  hangdog  and  other  like  complimentary 
exj^ressions. 

Aleph  bowed  to  the  friendly  citizens  with  a  smile,  got 
another  hearty  cheer  in  return,  and  closed  the  door. 

Shaphan  and  Nathan  were  warm  in  their  congratula- 
tions. As  for  Rachel — her  eyes  were  more  lustrous  than 
ever,  and  a  richer  color  was  in  her  cheek,  but  she  said 
nothing.     She  did  not  even  look  at  him. 

The  two  brothers,  however,  were  by  no  means  sure 
that  Mains  would  give  over  his  effort.  It  was  not  his 
way.  He  made  it  a  point  to  carry  his  point  on  all  occa- 
sions. To  be  sure,  the  case  as  Aleph  had  presented  it 
seemed  wholly  true  and  reasonable  ;  it  even  seemed  unsafe 
to  Mains  personally  to  proceed  ;  but  then  he  was  a  man 
of  mauy  resources,  had  grown  venturesome  by  the  habit 
of  success.  So  they  were  afraid  that  it  was  only  a  brief 
respite  that  had  been  obtained. 

Aleph  was  inclined  to  the  same  view.  He  had  little 
doubt  but  that  Malus  would  recognize  his  antagonist,  and 


THE   ESCORT.  193 

would  find  ill  tlio  fact  additional  motive  to  persevere.  So 
he  expressed  his  regret  that  it  was  not  possible  to  remove 
Miriam  at  once  to  some  other  house. 

This  brought  back  Rachel  from  her  abstraction.  She 
went  at  once  to  the  bedside  of  Miriam,  who  clasped  her 
hands  and  looked  up  piteonsly  into  the  loving  eyes  that 
beamed  inquiringly  upon  her. 

"  Do  you  think  that  you  could  bear  to  be  carried^  home 
now  ?  ''  they  asked. 

^^  Right  away!  right  away!"  broke  out  the  poor 
woman  with  unexpected  strength  of  voice.  ^^  It  is  better 
to  die  on  the  way  than  to  stay  here.  I  should  die  of  fear. 
Let  him  not  leave  me  " — and  she  turned  her  eyes  beseech- 
ingly toward  Aleph. 

He  approached,  took  her  hand  gently,  and  said  a  few 
soothing  words  while  he  watched  her.  She  grew  quiet 
and  peaceful  as  her  eyes  rested  on  his  face. 

^'It  seems  to  me,"  he  at  length  said,  ^Hhat  she  can 
better  go  than  stay.  She  can  summon  resolution  for  the 
one,  but  not  for  the  other.  The  effort  may  even  reinforce 
her  vitality." 

^'  Then  let  it  be  done,"  said  Rachel.  "  My  sedan  is 
large,  and  I  can  take  her  in  my  arms,  and  ease  all  the 
motions,  and  the  bearers  will  move  very  carefully.  Shall 
we  do  it  ?  " — she  bent  to  the  ear  of  the  sick  woman. 

Miriam  looked  at  her  gratefully,  and  said  with  some 
hesitation  : 

^af /^e  will  go." 

''  Certainly  he  will  go,"  cried  Rachel,  ^'and  will  walk 
by  the  side  of  the  chair,  and  will  steady  it  with  his  hand, 
and  will  every  now  and  then  look  in  upon  us  through  the 
curtains  to  see  that  we  are  all  right  j  and  when  we  reach 


194  THE    ESCORT. 

lionie  he  will  tiike  you  out  all  carefully  and  tenderly  and 
carry  you  in  his  strong  arms  up  to  your  own  room  and  lay 
you  on  your  own  bed — of  course  he  will.  He  shall  not 
have  my  approbation  for  what  he  has  done  to-day  till  he 
sees  us  both  safe  at  home" — and  the  great  dewy  eyes 
flashed  half  merrily  and  half  timidly  on  Aleph. 

Aleph  bowed.  ^'The  approbation  of  the  lady  Rachel 
is  very  far  from  being  a  matter  of  indifference  to  me.  So 
I  will  do  as  she  says.  We  will  all  go — our  friends  of  the 
khans,  the  leech,  and  all  the  servants,  save  the  janitor, 
who  on  demand  shall  put  Mains  in  possession.  Do  you 
approve  ? " — he  had  turned  toward  Shaphan  and  his 
brother. 

'^'^  We  do,"  said  Shaphan,  ^^but  before  we  go  into  the 
street,  I  wish  to  mention  a  fact  which  perhaps  may  con- 
cern you.  We  saw  Mains  to-day  in  close  talk  with  Simon, 
the  famous  magician  ;  and  later  in  the  day,  on  going  to 
your  khan,  we  found  that  Simon  and  the  beautiful 
Helena,  whom  he  sometimes  calls  his  daughter  and  some- 
times his  sister,  had  established  themselves  there  and  had 
placarded  the  neighborhood  with  invitations  to  the  i:>ublic 
to  come  and  witness  his  wonderful  performances  at  a 
stater  a  head.  For  as  much  more  fee  he  promises  to  put 
the  resources  of  his  a^rt  at  the  service  of  any  visitor  ; 
whether  he  wishes  to  have  his  fortune  told,  or  to  consult 
spirits,  or  to  prosper  in  love,  or  in  war,  or  in  money-get- 
ting." 

"Have  I  not  heard,''  said  Rachel  anxiously,  '^Hhat 
this  magician  is  an  agent  of  Mains  and  is  suspected  of 
aiding  him  in  his  undertakings  by  the  magical  art  ?  " 

^'As  much  is  said,"  answered  the  Jew.  ^'The  two 
men  are  cousins,  though  not  often  seen  together.     It  is 


THE   ESCORT.  195 

supposed,  however,  by  some  that  there  is  much  secret 
intercourse  between  them,  and  that  the  great  success  of 
Mains  in  his  affairs  is  largely  due  to  his  being  in  league 
with  evil  spirits.  This,  of  course,  he  stoutly  denies.  He 
laughs  at  the  idea.  At  the  same  time  he  sj^eaks  highly 
of  his  cousin,  the  sorcerer,  and  does  not  a  little  to  give 
him  patronage. '"' 

''And  yet,'^  said  Aleph,  "the  Law  is  severe  against 
sorcerers. '^ 

"  But  Mains  denies  that  Simon  is  a  sorcerer  in  the 
sense  used  in  our  Scriptures.  He  does  not  deal  with  evil 
spirits.  He  is  only  a  man  of  great  skill  and  learning, 
who  has  studied  nature  j^rofoundly  and  so  found  out 
many  scientific  means  of  doing  many  wonderful  things, 
and  even  of  subjecting  the  elemental  spirits  that  inhabit 
water  and  fire  and  lightnings  and  stars  to  his  will  and  the 
public  service.  His  spirits  are  not  devils.  His  sorcery  is 
only  science.  And  God  forbid  that  the  Law  should  de- 
nounce science.  So  Mains  presents  the  case.  The  two 
men  certainly  uphold  each  other  and  play  into  each  other's 
hands.  I  wonder  what  mischief  they  are  brewing  now 
between  them  ! " 

'^I  thank  you  for  this  information,"  said  Aleph.  "It 
may  prove  of  service  to  me.  But  now  let  us  proceed  to 
the  work  before  us." 

Under  the  direction  of  Rachel,  the  servants  in  a  few 
moments  collected  the  various  articles  of  furniture  and 
comfort  that  had  been  sent  from  the  mansion  of  Alexan- 
der. She  then  placed  herself  in  the  sedan  :  and,  the 
nurse  having  wrapped  Miriam  in  the  bed-coverings,  Aleph 
carefully  took  the  light  burden  in  his  arms  and  placed  it 
in  the  arms  of  Rachel.    As  carefully  the  porters  lifted  the 


196  THE   ESCORT. 

chair  and  made  their  way  into  the  street — preceded  by  the 
two  brothers,  accom2:>anied  by  Aleph,  and  followed  by  the 
remaining  servants.  In  a  few  moments  the  house  was  in 
the  solitary  charge  of  the  janitor,  with  instructions  to  wait 
a  while  and,  if  no  one  should  appear,  to  lock  the  door  and 
carry  the  key  to  the  police  headquarters  for  the  district. 

The  escort  stopped  at  the  priVate  family  entrance. 
Here  the  two  brothers  took  leave ;  and  Aleph,  receiving 
the  sick  woman  into  his  arms,  followed  Eachel  into  the 
mansion,  along  halls  and  courts  and  flights  of  steps,  to 
the  room  the  nurse  had  formerly  occupied.  When  he  had 
laid  his  light  burden  on  the  bed  and  had  satisfied  himself 
that  she  had  borne  the  transfer  without  serious  harm, 
though  much  wearied  and  needing  to  be  left  in  profound 
quiet,  he  turned  to  depart. 

The  sick  woman  beckoned  feebly  to  Rachel— more 
with  her  eye  than  with  her  hand.  The  young  lady  drew 
near  and  bent  to  listen  to  the  faint  whispers. 

"  She  wishes  me  to  thank  you  for  what  you  have  done 
for  her,"  said  the  maiden  after  a  moment,  ''and  to  beg 
that  you  will  not  forsake  her  now  that  she  is  safe  among 
friends." 

Alei^h  looked  inquiringly  at  the  lovely  interpreter— 
not  knowing  exactly  how  to  interpret  the  interpreta- 
tion. 

She  suddenly  turned  to  Miriam.  "  Of  course  he  will 
not  forsake  you.  He  is  coming  here  often  to  see  you— to 
see  how  you  get  on.  No  good  physician  neglects  liis  pa- 
tient till  she  is  well ;  and  not  even  then  if  he  is  wise.  Be- 
sides, he  wants  to  talk  more  with  you  about  Jesus  the 
Messiah  as  soon  as  you  arc  able  to  bear  it.  Yes,  of  course 
he  is  coming,  coming  often,  coming  to-morrow.     He  win 


THE    ESCORT.  197 

suffer  in  our  good  opinion  if  lie  does  not.     So  now  close 
your  eyes  and  rest  in  peace." 

Instead  of  doing  this,  Miriam  burst  into  a  flood  of 
tears  and  nervous  sobbing.  Up  to  this  time  she  could 
not  fully  realize  that  the  dreadful  nightmare  of  her  life 
was  over.  But  now  that  she  found  herself  in  her  own 
room,  and  looking  about  on  the  familiar  objects,  and  rec- 
ognizing one  thing  after  another  that  she  used  to  call  hers, 
and  saw  only  kind  faces  beaming  upon  her — all  at  once  a 
sense  of  absolute  safety  came  surging  in  upon  her  like  a 
mighty  billow.  Ah,  what  a  relief — Heaven  in  place  of 
Hell  !  Then  all  the  flood-gates  of  feeling  gave  way.  It 
was  some  time  before  she  could  control  herself  enough  to 
articulate.  But  at  last  the  words  came — though  very 
faintly  : 

''Home  at  last  !  Thank  God,  who  has  fulfilled  the 
words  of  Jesus  and  sent  me  the  deliverer  whom  he  prom- 
ised ! " 

The  great  sea  went  down  as  suddenly  as  it  had  risen. 
In  a  few  moments  the  exhausted  woman  closed  her  eyes 
and  was  sleeping  peacefully. 

Aleph  and  Rachel  stood  together  for  a  little,  watching 
the  peaceful  slumber. 

''  The  experiment  seems  more  successful  than  I  feared," 
said  Aleph  at  length  ;  ''I  am  glad  that  we  made  it." 

Her  voice  trembled  a  little,  and  her  color  came,  as  she 
said,  without  turning  toward  him  and  w^ith  downcast  eyes, 
"  And  he  to  whom  the  success  is  due,  and  who  is  doubt- 
less the  friend  whom  Jesus  promised  to  Miriam,  has  now 
the  express  and  warm  approbation  that  I  promised  him, 
and  which  I  have  found  it  hard  to  keep  back  till  now." 

Aleph  answered,  '^  Your  compensation  is  large — I  fear 


198  THE   ESCORT. 

much  too  large  for  doing  what  to  me  has  been  a  pleasure 
and  an  education.  And  yet  I  cannot  decline  to  accept  an 
approval  which  my  heart  values  so  highly." 

In  parting  he  extended  his  hand.  She  placed  her  own 
within  it.  He  carried  the  snowy  prisoner  in  grave  and 
reverent  courtesy  to  his  lips.    Was  she  offended  ? 


IX. 

THE    MAGICIAN. 

Stt*  Tcic  u<pavei^  KadiaravTai,  fiavTiKTJv  re  koL  xPV^f^ovg  '^^^  Toiavra. 

Thucydides,  v.  103. 
They  have   recourse  to  the  invisible  realm — to  necromancy,  and 
fortune-telling,  and  such  things. 


1.  Thie  greatest  show  on  earth. 

2.  Simon   IMagus  at  his  best. 

3.  Also  at  his  worst. 

4.  Avatint,  Sathanas! 


IX. 

THE    MAGICIAN. 

ON"  his  return  to  the  khan,  as  Aleph  entered  the 
Egyptian  quarter,  he  began  to  notice  the  papyrus 
placards  of  which  Shaphan  had  spoken;  and,  as  he  ad- 
vanced, they  became  numerous — pasted  on  walls,  booths, 
boxes,  whatever  conspicuous  object  presented  itself. 
Had  the  art  of  printing  been  known  to  Simon,  he  plainly 
would  have  been  a  famous  advertiser  As  it  was,  he  had 
made  a  very  liberal  use  of  the  scribes  of  the  city.  Aleph 
stopped  to  read  one  immense  sheet,  beautifully  written 
on,  which  a  boy  was  carrying  aloft  on  a  pole.  This  sheet 
informed  the  public  that  Simon,  the  greatest  magician 
and  master  of  occult  wisdom  in  modern  times,  would  ex- 
hibit his  wonderful  powers  this  eve  at  the  khan  near  the 
Serapeum  at  the  rate  of  two  drachmas  a  head.  The  price 
for  admission  had  been  put  so  low  in  order  that  the  en- 
tertainment might  be  within  reach  of  all.  Let  all  come. 
They  would  see  the  greatest  show  on  earth.  Whatever 
the  wizards  of  Thessaly,  the  astrologers  of  Chaldea,  the 
sybils  of  Magna  Grecia,  the  soothsayers  and  diviners  of 
Etruria,  and  the  sorcerers  and  necromancers  of  ancient 
Egypt  and  India  could  do,  he  was  able  to  do — and  more. 
Let  all  the  peojile  come  and  see.     For  an  extra  didrachma 


202  THE   MAGICIAN. 

there  would  be  seats  reserved.  Seats  or  no  seats,  the  peo- 
ple were  sure  to  get  more  than  their  money's  worth.  If  any 
wanted  their  fortunes  told  by  the  stars ;  if  they  wanted 
to  know  the  critical  times  in  their  lives  so  that  they 
might  be  on  their  guard ;  if  they  wanted  to  know  what 
would  be  the  best  times  for  any  undertakings  they  have 
in  mind,  or  to  have  such  helps  in  them  as  the  elemental 
spirits  can  give,  or  to  compound  love  potions,  or  to  com- 
municate with  distant  and  even  dead  friends,  or  to  defend 
themselves  from  enemies — in  short,  whoever  wanted  help 
of  any  kind  that  he  could  not  get  by  the  common  and 
natural  means,  now  was  the  opportunity  of  a  life-time ; 
let  him  come  to  Simon,  the  great  magician  of  the  age. 
He  will  not  be  disappointed.  Admission  to  the  court  of 
the  khan  one  didrachma — seats  under  the  piazza  two  di- 
drachmas. 

Cimon  was  found  waiting  just  outside  the  khan; 
from  the  inside  of  which  came  the  sound  of  busy  axes 
and  hammers.  He  proposed  that  they  should  go  for  their 
evening  meal  to  some  quiet  stall  in  the  neighboring 
Egyptian  market  and  there  talk  over  their  concerns.  Ac- 
cordingly, they  were  soon  established  in  a  nook  by  them- 
selves, and  Aleph  proceeded  to  relate  his  experiences  dur- 
ing the  day  thus  far. 

In  return,  Cimon  said  that  the  object  of  Seti  in  call- 
ing him  aside  was  to  ask  whether  he  had  as  yet  seen  any 
sign  of  a  hostile  movement  on  the  part  of  the  son  of  the 
Governor;  also  whether  he  knew  of  any  reason  why 
Mains  would  favor  such  a  movement.  The  first  question 
he  answered  in  the  negative:  as  to  the  second,  he  was 
obliged  to  say  that  there  were  circumstances  that  made 
it  likely  that  Mains  would  favor  any  scheme  to  their  dis- 


THE   MAGICIAN.  203 

advantage  of  which  he  might  happen  to  learn.  On  this, 
Seti  said  that,  knowing  well  as  he  did  the  violent  and  re- 
vengeful character  of  the  young  Roman,  he  had  thought 
it  best  to  have  his  movements  watched ;  and  had  discov- 
ered that,  since  the  disturbance  at  the  Diaplenston,  and 
especially  within  the  last  twenty-four  hours,  there  had 
been  considerable  stealthy  intercourse  between  him  and 
Mains.  It  looked  very  much  as  if  they  were  concerting 
mischief.  After  what  Cimon  had  told  him  he  had  no 
doubt  as  to  the  objects  of  the  mischief.  Might  he  ask 
whether  the  circumstances  referred  to  were  such  as  to  en- 
list Mains  thoroughly  in  any  enterprise,  however  bad, 
against  himself  and  his  young  friend?  To  this  Cimon 
had  answered  that  the  circumstances  were  indeed  such 
that  their  entire  disappearance  from  the  scene  would  free 
Mains  from  a  great  peril. 

"Then,"  said  Seti  emphatically,  "he  will  join  the 
Roman  in  trying  to  do  you  all  the  mischief  he  can.  He 
will  have  no  scruple  as  to  way  or  means." 

After  Aleph  and  Rachel  had  left,  Seti  had  still  de- 
tained him  for  a  while  with  various  examples  of  the  un- 
scrupulous craft  and  daring  of  the  man — so  plainly  for 
the  purpose  of  putting  them  on  their  guard  against  him 
that  he  was  almost  on  the  point  of  explaining  their  rela- 
tions to  Mains  in  full;  especially  after  Seti  had  con- 
cluded with  asking  that  for  the  sake  of  greater  security 
they  would  exchange  their  present  quarters  for  rooms  in 
the  Serapeum.  "  It  was  an  unusual  thing  to  do,  not  to 
say  unprecedented;  but  the  circumstances  were  un- 
usual." So  he  begged  that  they  would  transfer  them- 
selves without  delay.  But  Cimon  thought  that  he  ought 
to  confer  with  Aleph  about  the  matter  before  accepting 


204  THE   MAOICIAK. 

the  offer.  So,  thanking  the  priest  for  it,  and  promising 
to  report  the  next  day,  he  took  leave. 

"  AVould  it  not  have  been  well,"  said  Aleph,  *'to 
leave  in  the  hands  of  the  high-priest  that  parcel  which  1 
saw  you  making  up  last  evening  of  the  results  of  your  in- 
quiries as  to  Mains — I  mean  for  safe  keeping?" 

*'That  is  what  I  did,"  replied  the  Greek;  "going 
back  for  that  purpose  after  I  had  made  another  visit  and 
added  to  the  parcel  some  account  of  that." 

He  then  proceeded  to  say  that,  finding  it  still  so  early 
that  he  might  hope  to  find  the  custom  house  superintend- 
ent at  his  post,  he  determined  to  call  upon  him  and  as- 
certain the  result  of  the  inquiry  he  had  promised  to 
make.  This  he  did.  The  oflficial  reported  that  the  emi- 
nent merchant  Mains  had  entered  the  office  shortly  after 
Cimon  had  left  it,  and,  on  hearing  of  the  reqnest  to  ex- 
amine the  registers,  had  kindly  offered  to  solicit  a  permit 
from  the  Governor.  It  would  be  very  little  trouble,  as  he 
was  about  going  to  Bruchium  on  business  of  his  own. 
But  he  proved  unsuccessful.  Despite  his  efforts,  the 
most  he  could  obtain  was  a  permit  for  himself  to  make 
the  examination  in  behalf  of  the  stranger ;  and  then  only 
in  case  the  person  should  approve  himself  to  him  as  a 
person  of  standing  and  consideration.  Of  course  this 
ended  the  matter.     Cimon  bowed  and  retired. 

He  was  not  disappointed.  From  the  moment  when 
he  met  Mains  in  the  passage  he  had  not  counted  on  any 
other  issue;  though  without  any  idea  of  the  ingenious 
way  in  which  it  would  be  brought  about. 

'*  How  much  will  this  failure  be  likely  to  embarrass 
our  cause?"  inquired  Aleph. 

*'  It  makes  it  impos.^ible  for  us  to  charge  Mains  with  a 


THE   MAGICIAN.  205 

crime  against  the  State ;  that  is,  tlie  crime  of  smuggling, 
or  of  colhision  with  some  custom  house  officials  to  de- 
fraud the  government/' 

"  I  understand.  You  have  certified  copies  of  the  re- 
ceipts at  Myos  Hermos ;  also  certified  copies  of  the  re- 
ceipts given  for  the  same  goods  by  Malus  as  harbor-mas- 
ter here ;  so  that  you  know  that  Malus  has  received  all 
the  goods  sent.  If  any  of  these  do  not  appear  on  the 
registers  here,  it  must  be  because  he  has  brought  them 
into  the  city  without  passing  them  through  the  custom 
house,  or,  if  through  the  custom  house,  is  in  conspiracy 
with  some  of  its  officials  to  defraud  the  State — a  crime 
more  likely  to  get  prompt  attention  than  one  that  is 
merely  against  an  individual — and  a  foreigner." 

"  Exactly.  Still  our  case,  as  it  now  stands,  would 
naturally  compel  a  formal  examination  of  the  registers : 
for  we  can  prove  that  Malus  has  received  everything  up 
to  the  gates  of  the  custom  house.  Beyond  the  gates  he 
declares  himself  to  have  received  much  less — that  is, 
much  has  been  lost  in  passing  through  the  custom  house. 
This  is  really  charging  its  officials  with  crime.  Such  a 
charge,  it  would  seem,  must  compel  an  examination  of 
the  registers.  Still  I  would  have  been  glad  to  set  the  of- 
fense against  the  State  in  the  foreground  of  the  battle." 

*'Then,"  said  Aleph,  "supposing  the  registry  ac- 
counts to  agree  with  ours,  Malus  would  be  liable  to  re- 
fund the  value  of  the  missing  goods  according  to  the 
prices  ruling  at  the  times  they  were  received,  and  to  add 
to  this  a  considerable  sum  on  nearly  every  one  of  the 
many  other  lots  consigned  to  him  for  thirty  years  on  ac- 
count of  false  statements  as  to  the  duties  imposed  and 
the  prices  current — in  regard  to  both  of  which  you  have 


206  THE   MAGICIAN. 

gained  sufficient  information.     Have  you  estimated  what 
the  whole  indebtedness  amounts  to?" 

*'Not  closely;  but  it  must  amount  to  an  immense 
sum.  And  then,  if  Malus  should  incidentally  be  con- 
victed of  smuggling,  half  of  the  large  sum  forfeited  by 
the  Koman  law  would  fall  to  the  party  establishing  the 
fact.  If  the  courts  are  equitable  our  success  means  the 
ruin  of  Malus  (or  what  he  would  consider  such) — esjie- 
cially  as  it  would  bring  upon  him  the  claims  of  many 
other  persons  whom  he  has  wronged,  but  who  hitherto 
have  been  afraid  to  contend  with  him.  Of  course  a  man 
with  so  much  at  stake  must  be  expected  to  make  great 
efforts  to  secure  himself ;  and  such  a  man  as  Malus  will 
stop  at  nothing,  however  criminal,  that  promises  to  help 
him.     By  this  time,  no  doubt,  he  is  wide  awake." 

"  Do  you  suppose,^'  inquired  Aleph  after  a  moment's 
silence,  *'that  the  exhibition  this  evening  is  inspired  by 
him  and  covers  some  designs  against  us?'' 

"I  fear  so,"  said  Cimon,  moving  uneasily,  "though 
I  do  not  see  clearly  how  it  can  be  made  to  serve  his  pur- 
pose. I  would  that  we  and  our  belongings  were  well  in 
the  Serapeum.  But  it  is  now  too  late  in  the  day  to 
make  a  change :  all  that  we  can  do  is  to  be  wary  while  re< 
maining  for  the  night  at  the  khan." 

"  I  should  have  some  scruples  about  being  present  at 
a  professedly  magical  exhibition  if  it  were  not  practically 
involuntary.  But,  since  we  have  no  choice  in  the  mat- 
ter, we  may  at  least  get  the  advantage  of  noticing  the 
contrast  between  the  miracles  of  Jesus  as  they  have  been 
reported  to  us  and  the  marvels  of  the  most  famous  magi- 
cian of  our  time — for  such  I  understattd  he  is  consid- 
ered." -  r  ; 


THE   MAGICIAN.  207 

*'  Try  to  imagine  some  advantage  to  his  cousin  Mains 
in  this  movement/'  suggested  Cimon. 

*'  Is  it  not  supposable  that  Mains  is  very  superstitions 
(as  I  believe  such  men  are  apt  to  be)  and  has  great  confi- 
dence in  the  magic  art,  and  hopes  to  weave  about  us 
some  hindering  if  not  destructive  spell,  enlisting  against 
us  demoniacal  forces?  Perhaps,  too,  he  proposes  to 
frighten  us  from  our  purpose  by  astrological  and  other 
predictions  of  impending  evil :  also  will  seek  to  enlarge 
his  knowledge  of  us  by  asking  for  the  facts  needed  for 
constructing  a  horoscope/^ 

"That  will  do  very  well  for  a  guess,"  said  Cimon. 
"And  since  we  are  guessing  I  will  make  a  small  contri- 
bution. Perhaps  the  darkness  which  is  sure  to  accom- 
pany the  exhibition  at  some  stage  will  be  used  for  an  at- 
tack on  us  bodily.  This  can  be  imputed  to  spirits.  If  I 
should  see  among  the  spectators  any  persons  with  villain- 
ous and  cut-throat  faces,  I  should  feel  called  on  to  be  on 

the  watch." 

During  this  conversation  their  simple  meal  had  been 
brought  and  dispatched  (not  without  an  audible  thanks- 
giving) ;  and  Cimon  now  proposed  that  they  should  at 
once  return  to  the  khan  and  acquaint  themselves  with 
their  new  surroundings  somewhat  in  advance  of  the  even- 
ing's performance. 

The  sun  was  about  setting,  and  many  people  were  al- 
ready collected  about  the  gate,  reading  the  large  poster 
that  hung  upon  it  and  comparing  views  and  expectations, 
when  our  friends  came  up.  They  were  at  once  admitted 
as  being  guests  of  the  establishment. 

They  found  a  platform  erected  in  the  middle  of  the 
court,   and  closely  drawn  about  by  curtains  on  which 


208  THE   MAGICIAN. 

were  various  cabalistic  characters.  From  within  issued  a 
smoke,  an  odor  as  of  strange  drugs,  a  hissing  sound  as  of 
boiling,  faint  flashes  of  light,  and  various  sounds  as  of 
people  moving  about  and  arranging.  Around  the  stage, 
at  a  small  distance,  hurdles  had  been  set  up— also  about 
the  piazza.  The  only  break  in  these  two  lines  of  hur- 
dles was  opposite  the  room  which  Cimon  and  Aleph  oc- 
cupied. Here  were  two  gates  giving  access  from  the 
stage  to  the  piazza  by  means  of  a  flight  of  steps  from  the 

former. 

'' AVhat  does  this  mean?"  thought  our  two  friends. 

"  Did  it  liayi^en  so?  " 

In  passing  to  their  room  along  the  piazza  they  found 
benches,  each  of  which  could  seat  four  persons,  standing 
before  each  room,  but  set  forward  so  as  to  allow  free  pas- 
sage behind  them.  Before  their  own  door,  however, 
stood  only  a  single  short  bench  seating  only  two  persons. 
Eight  before  this  seat,  under  the  eaves  of  the  piazza, 
hung  a  single  lighted  lamp— the  only  lamp  visible  any- 
where. 

"And  what  does  all  this  mean?  "  thought  our  friends. 
"  Does  it  mean  honor  to  us  as  the  guests  of  the  house  or 
to  make  us  easier  marks  for  the  archer?  '^ 

Without  stopping  to  answer  such  questions  they  un- 
locked their  door;  and,  entering,  held  their  usual  even- 
ing devotions  with  no  appearance  of  distraction  or  hurry. 
When  they  came  out,  staff  in  hand,  and  took  seats  on  the 
bench  before  the  door,  they  found  that  the  shadows  had 
considerably  deepened,  and  the  signs  of  activity  within 
the  curtained  stage  had  considerably  increased.  As  yet 
no  spectators  had  been  admitted. 

Soon,  however,   people   began   to   enter   the   court: 


THE   MAGICIAN.  209 

then,  after  a  while,  the  piazza  began  to  be  occupied. 
Our  friends  watched  narrowly  every  successive  arrival  as 
long  as  the  deepening  shadows  allowed ;  but  it  soon  be- 
came impossible  to  form  any  idea  of  faces  and  figures. 
But  they  Avere  very  many — so  many  at  last  that  there 
seemed  to  be  no  more  standing  room  in  the  court,  nor 
sitting  room  under  the  piazza.  The  seats  nearest  them, 
on  the  right  and  left,  somehow  came  to  be  occupied  last, 
and  though  Aleph  bent  specially  on  them  his  young 
searching  eyes,  the  light  had  become  too  dim  to  be  of  ser- 
vice. He  then  noticed  for  the  first  time  that  the  lamp 
before  him  had  protruding  sides  that  fended  off  the  rays 
to  the  right  and  left.  Himself  and  companion  would 
have  the  sole  benefit  of  the  illumination.  Would  it  be  a 
benefit  ? 

A  bell  tinkled.  Up  went  the  stage  curtains.  In  the 
midst  of  a  blaze  of  light  stood  a  man  of  unusual  stature. 
His  beard  was  long  and  black,  and  long  black  locks  hung 
below  the  close-fitting  black  cap.  A  long  black  mantle 
covered  with  geometrical  and  other  figures  hung  grace- 
fully from  his  shoulders.  Supreme  confidence  in  his 
own  powers  and  position  breathed  in  his  whole  attitude 
and  expression.  His  air  was  that  of  an  acknowledged 
sage.  He  stood  motionless  for  a  few  moments  as  if  to  al- 
low the  people  a  full  opportunity  to  see  what  a  dignified 
and  promising  person  was  before  them.  He  then  turned 
quietly  and  took  a  cool  survey  of  the  packed  court  and  of 
the  piazza  beyond  as  if  to  acquaint  himself  with  the  sit- 
uation—to see  how  many  persons  and  what  sort  of  per- 
sons made  up  his  audience.  His  survey  ended  with  his 
confronting  Cimon  and  Aleph  for  a  moment. 

A  little  back  of  this  remarkable  figure  stood  another 


210  THE    MAGICIAN. 

scarcely  less  noticeable— a  beautiful  woman  richly, 
though  sctantily,  dressed,  in  the  Greek  fashion.  Behind 
her,  at  the  two  corners  of  the  platform,  stood  two  Nu- . 
bians,  bla-ck  as  midnight,  who  could  scarcely  be  said  to 
be  dressed  at  all.  Between  these  latter  stood  a  table  on 
which  was  a  seething  cauldron  over  a  brazier  of  live  coals 
—also  a  large  shallow  dish.  Two  stools  and  a  number  of 
tools  were  under  the  table. 

Simon  turned  and  bowed  low  to  Helena— for  that  Avas 
the  Aspasia-like  woman  near  him.     Then,  turning  to  the 

people : 

"  I  always  make  it  a  point,''  said  he,  ''  to  begin  with 
acknowledging  my  obligations  to  my  sister,  to  whom  I  am 
indebted  for  much  of  my  success." 

He  then  added,  "  I  wish  it  to  be  distinctly  understood 
at  the  outset  that  a  part  of  what  I  shall  do  this  evening 
is  only  skillful  illusion ;  another  part  will  be  done  simply 
by  means  of  my  acquaintance  with  the  more  mysterious 
laws  and  forces  of  Nature ;  a  third  part  will  be  done  by 
the  help  of  powerful  spirits  Avhom  I  have  subjected,  to  a 
certain  extent,  by  my  art,  but  who  do  not  belong  to  that 
class  of  spirits  with  whom  intercourse  is  forbidden." 

He  at  once  began  to  draw  a  ribbon  from  his  mouth. 
He  drew  and  drew — apparently  there  was  no  end  to  the 
stock  of  ribbons  within  him.  At  last,  with  a  gesture  of 
impatience,  he  broke  off  the  endless  thing  at  his  lips, 
and  gulped  down  the  remainder.  He  then  went  to  the 
brazier  of  glowing  coals  and  proceeded  to  eat  them  as  so 
much  fruit — to  eat  with  excellent  appetite. 

Suddenly  turning  from  this  feast,  he  took  up  the 
large  dish  on  the  table  and  poured  out  from  it  a  quantity 
of  sand  on  the  platform.     He  completely  reversed  the 


THE   MAGICIAN.  211 

dish  and  shook  it.  He  then  rephiced  the  sand,  inserted 
in  it  a  small  seed,  spread  his  two  hands  over  the  dish,  and 
waited  for  what  might  happen.  AVhat  happened  was  a 
little  olive  tree — as  everybody  could  see  as  soon  as  Simon 
had  removed  his  hands  and  held  up  the  dish  for  general 
view.  He  then  set  down  the  dish  on  the  floor,  covered  it 
for  a  moment  with  a  corner  of  his  mantle,  and  then  held 
it  up  to  view  again.  Lo,  the  little  olive  of  a  few  inches 
had  doubled  its  size.  Once  more  he  covered  it  from  view. 
On  removing  his  robe,  he  showed  to  the  people  a  plant 
so  large  that  its  roots  had  crowded  out  all  the  sand  from 
the  vessel  and  protruded  from  it  on  all  sides.  Using  an- 
other corner  of  the  mantle,  he  reversed  the  process.  The 
great  plant  dwindled  by  successive  stages  into  the  origi- 
nal seed  which  was  held  up  for  the  people  to  see. 

Taking  the  same  dish,  shaking  the  saiid  out  of  it, 
even  taking  the  pains  to  wipe  it  vigorously  with  one  cor- 
ner of  his  robe,  he  reversed  it  on  the  floor.  Muttering  a 
few  words  over  it,  he  lifted  it  and  a  cat  appeared.  He 
replaced  the  dish  over  the  cat;  after  a  moment  lifted 
again,  and  behold,  a  dog  instead  of  a  cat.  Replacing  the 
dish  over  the  dog,  and  after  a  moment  lifting  it  again, 
he  astonished  the  people  with  the  sight  of  a  litter  of  pup- 
pies. Reversing  the  process,  he  produced  in  succession 
the  dog,  the  cat,  and  the  empty  dish. 

He  concluded  this  part  of  the  entertainment  by 
drawing  a  sword  from  under  his  mantle  and  swallow- 
ing it. 

Next,  Simon  seated  himself  at  the  table,  and  laid  the 
tips  of  his  fingers  upon  it.  Helena  set  a  seat  by  his  side 
and  did  the  same.  The  two  Nubians  came  forward,  and, 
having  removed  the  brazier,  seated  themselves  on  the 


212  THE    MAGICIAN. 

table  itself.  In  a  few  moments  it  began  to  tip,  and  finally 
fell  to  swaying  and  leaping  so  violently  that  the  blacks 
were  unable  to  keep  their  seats,  though  they  struggled 
hard  to  do  so.  Having  dislodged  the  two  bulky  fellows, 
the  table  rose  several  feet  into  the  air  and  remained  sus- 
pended; and  the  brazier  with  its  cauldron  rose  gently 
after  it  and  resumed  its  old  place  without  any  disturbance 
of  their  contents — and  all  the  while  raps  and  musical 
sounds  both  over  and  under  the  table  were  heard.  The 
Nubians  caught  hold  of  the  legs  of  the  table  and  tried 
with  all  their  might  to  pull  it  down ;  whereupon  it  rose 
still  higher,  dragging  the  men  after  it.  Simon  made  a 
downward  pass  with  his  hand,  and  at  once  it  descended 
gently  and  noiselessly  to  the  floor. 

Again  Helena  seated  herself.  Simon  approached, 
took  hold  of  both  her  hands,  and  looked  steadily  into  her 
eyes.  Shortly,  relinquishing  her  hands,  he  made  passes 
downward  along  her  arms.  Gradually  her  eyelids  drew 
together  and  she  slept. 

"  Now  tell  us  what  you  see,"  said  Simon. 

*'  I  see,"  said  she,  slowly,  and  as  if  looking  afar,  "  a 
beautiful  country  of  mountains  and  green  valleys  and 
crystal  streams,  sprinkled  with  flocks  and  herds  and 
white-faced  keepers." 

"Look  again.  What  do  you  see  now?"  continued 
the  magician. 

''I  see,"  replied  Helena,  ''a  magnificent  palace 
perched  on  an  eminence.  It  is  of  stone;  and  it  has 
around  it  walls  and  towers;  and  into  its  court-yard  is 
now  coming  a  caravan  dusty  and  wayworn — loaded  horses 
and  mules  and  camels ;  and,  escorting  them,  many  armed 
horsemen  before  and  behind." 


THE   MAGICIAN.  213 

"  Enter  the  palace.  What  see  you  now?  "  continued 
the  soothsayer. 

"I  see  steps  of  marble,  doors  of  brass,  a  lofty  hall 
with  sculptures  and  suits  of  armor,  sumptuous  apart- 
ments after  apartments— a  library  in  which  are  four  per- 
sons; two  sitting  on  a  couch,  and  two  standing  before 
them.  The  first  two  are  a  man  and  woman  venerable 
with  white  locks,  but  with  no  other  signs  of  great  age : 
the  other  two,  also  a  man  and  woman,  are  much  younger 
and  still  in  the  fullness  of  mature  life.  All  are  of 
princely  features  and  bearing." 

"  What  are  they  doing?  "  demanded  Simon. 

"  The  younger  couple  are  untying  tablets  bound  about 
with  a  black  ribbon.  They  are  now  reading— plainly 
with  surprise  and  grief." 

"Approach  and  read  with  them,"  said  Simon. 

"I  cannot  read.  The  characters  are  strange.  Be- 
sides, tears  haye  fallen  copiously  on  them,"  said  the 
woman. 

Simon  reversed  his  passes,  and  the  woman,  giving  a 
great  sigh,  opened  her  eyes. 

He  then  came  forward  to  the  edge  of  the  stage  next 

to  our  friends. 

"We  come  now,"  said  he,  "to  something  very  im- 
portant. It  has  been  known  from  remotest  times  that  it 
is  possible  to  determine  from  the  stars  the  general  char- 
acter of  a  man's  fortunes,  the  critical  times  in  his  life, 
the  sort  of  dangers  to  which  he  will  be  most  exposed. 
Becoming  acquainted  with  these,  he  can  take  precautions 
accordingly.  For  example,  if  one  finds  that  to-morrow 
will  be  a  time  of  special  peril  to  him,  and  that  the  peril 
will  come  from  a  city,  he  can  leave  the  city  at  once  and 


314  THE   MAGICIAIT. 

SO  secure  himself.  So  it  is  very  important  that  each  one 
of  you  inform  himself  in  advance  all  about  these  critical 
and  dangerous  times  that  are  sure  to  come  to  him.  Do 
not  neglect  this  opportunity  of  consulting  the  stars.  It 
is  the  opportunity  of  a  life-time.  For  the  very  small 
consideration  of  only  one  gold  stater  he  can  have  the 
benefit  of  my  profound  studies  among  the  stars,  studies 
which  I  can  assure  you  have  been  profounder  and  more 
successful  than  those  of  any  other  man,  not  excepting 
Hermes  Trismegistus  himself.  All  you  have  to  do  is  to 
hand  me  the  piece  of  gold,  together  with  the  exact  time 
and  place  of  your  birth,  and  I  will  construct  the  twelve 
Heavenly  Houses,  and  find  the  places  of  the  planets 
therein,  and  take  account  of  their  mutual  bearings  and 
modifications,  and  so  make  out  for  you  a  horoscope  that 
will  tell  you  just  what  is  to  be  done  in  every  trying  situa- 
tion as  long  as  you  live.  And  you  will  live  twice  as  long 
for  it.  Now,  who  will,  at  the  trifling  expense  I  have 
mentioned,  protect  himself  from  great  harm  and  secure 
to  himself  wonderful  advantages?" 

He  folded  his  arms  and  waited.  But  no  one  re- 
sponded. Either  there  was  not  sufi^cient  faith  in  the 
people,  or  they  had  already  invested  in  horoscopes,  or  the 
gold  piece  required  was  wanting.  The  astrologer  ex- 
pressed surprise  at  this  backwardness  to  seize  the  splen- 
did o})portunity  they  were  having  for  having  their  for- 
tunes told  by  the  truth-telling  stars  through  their  most 
illustrious  interpreter.  It  was  a  great  mistake.  They 
would  surely  regret  it.  He  was  only  passing  through  the 
city  on  his  way  to  Rome  at  tlie  invitation  of  the  Emperor 
Tiberius,  and  when  he  should  return,  if  ever,  it  was  im- 
possible to  say.     What  was  the  difficulty?     Was  it  the 


THE   MAGICIAiq-.  215 

ready  money  demanded?  Well,  he  would  make  it  easy 
for  poor  people.  They  might  pay  him  on  delivery  of  the 
horoscope  and  its  interpretation.  Let  them  hand  in  their 
names  and  the  facts  called  for,  and  he  would  trust  them. 
This  brought  out  the  people  in  the  court.  Not  a  few 
signified  their  readiness  to  accept  the  new  offer ;  and  the 
Nubians,  passing  along  the  inner  hurdles  with  papyrus 
and  stylus,  soon  collected  quite  a  catalogue  of  names  and 
appropriate  particulars.  This  seemed  very  satisfactory 
to  Simon. 

He  then  looked  off  toward  the  piazza  from  whose  seats 
no  response  to  his  appeal  had  yet  come.  He  was  now 
ready  to  attend  to  them.  It  was  kind  in  them  to  wait 
till  the  less  favored  class  had  been  cared  for.  Now  let 
the  piazza  speak.  Though  they  did  not  belong  to  the 
impecunious  class,  he  would  make  no  distinction  between 
the  rich  and  poor,  but  would  serve  all  on  the  same  terms. 
And  he  walked  about  the  edge  of  the  platform  on  all 
sides  with  one  hand  behind  his  ear. 

*'Your  voices  are  too  feeble,''  he  at  length  ex- 
claimed; "I  must  get  nearer,"  and  he  descended  from 
the  stage  by  the  flight  of  steps  in  front  of  Cimon  and 
Aleph,  opened  the  wicket  and  stepped  on  the  piazza. 

"  Perhaps  these  friends,  one  of  whom  seems  to  me  to 
have  come  from  the  native  land  of  astrology  and  may 
therefore  be  presumed  to  know  how  potent  in  human  af- 
fairs the  stars  are,  will  allow  me  to  construct  figures  for 
them.  Somehow  I  feel  a  presentiment  as  I  stand  near 
this  young  man  (and  I  have  never  known  such  presenti- 
ments deceive  me),  that  he  is  entering  a  critical  period  in 
his  fortunes,  and  will  need  all  the  light  my  art  can  throw 
on  the  character  of  the  perils  surrounding  him  and  the 


216  THE   MAGICIAK. 

way  of  escape.  If  lie  will  tell  me  the  exact  date  and  place 
of  his  birth,  I  can  in  a  few  moments,  by  means  of  a  great 
improvement  on  old  methods,  make  for  him  a  planetary 
construction  that  will  cover  the  next  few  days  and  be  of 
immense  service  to  him.  I  trust  he  believes  in  the  Chal- 
dean science?" 

"At  present  I  express  neither  assent  nor  dissent," 
said  Aleph;  "  I  only  say  that  I  have  no  occasion  for  your 
art.  If  perils  come  I  propose  to  seek  help,  not  from  the 
stars,  but  from  beyond  them.^^ 

This  was  said  in  so  decisive  a  tone  as  to  forbid  fur- 
ther solicitation. 

Simon  merely  added  in  a  voice  which  plainly  betrayed 
resentment,  "  Perhaps  the  young  man  is  aware  that  the 
stars  are  apt  to  be  hostile  to  those  who  distinctly  refuse 
them.  I  foresee  that  they  will  be  hostile  to  him."  And, 
swaying  his  long  loose  mantle  against  the  knees  of  Aleph 
as  he  turned,  he  stalked  back  to  his  place  on  the  plat- 
form. 

There,  folding  his  arms  and  looking  upward  intently 
as  if  carefully  perusing  the  sky  at  different  points,  he  re- 
mained silent  for  a  while.  He  then  suddenly  exclaimed 
in  a  voice  of  thunder,  "  Oh,  the  angry  aspects!  Oh,  the 
threatening  configurations!  Oh,  the  malignant  Saturn 
in  Aries  shooting  his  rays  aslant  yonder !  " — and  he 
pointed  his  finger  toward  the  part  of  the  piazza  which  he 
had  just  left.  He  then  turned  to  the  people  and  said 
with  a  voice  that  seemed  oppressed  by  some  mighty  bur- 
den, "You  have  just  heard  me  say  that  sometimes  when 
I  am  very  near  a  person,  and  especially  if  my  robe  touches 
him,  there  comes  upon  me  a  presentiment  in  regard  to 
him  which  is,  in  a  measure,  a  substitute  for  a  horoscope 


THE   MAGICIAN.  217 

— especially  if  at  once  followed  by  such  a  consultation  of 
the  heavens  as  I  have  just  now  given/' 

''Tell  us  what  you  have  discovered/'  cried  a  voice 
from  the  court. 

"I  see/'  he  cried,  "his  enterprise  miscarrying,  his 
friends  forsaking  him,  his  enemies  surrounding  him. 
Flight  alone  will  save  him.  And  let  him  not  linger. 
The  black  cloud  has  settled  till  it  touches  him— let  him 
rush  from  under  it.  The  walls  of  the  house  have  crept 
together  till  they  press  him  on  every  side — let  him  leap 
forth  before  it  is  too  late.  The  walls  of  the  city  have 
crowded  in  upon  him  till  the  four  gates  almost  meet  one 
another — let  him  struggle  through  this  or  that  as  best  he 
can,  and  flee,  flee.  Flee  on  the  swift  Bactrian  drome- 
dary, flee  on  the  swift  galley  with  sails  and  oars,  flee  as 
does  the  ostrich  before  the  Arabian  with  both  feet  and 
wings,  flee  as  do  the  sands  of  the  desert  before  the  hot 
Simoom.  Else  the  Chaldean  home  will  wail  for  the  son 
that  never  returns." 

This  he  said  with  the  air  of  a  prophet— his  tall  form 
strained  to  the  utmost,  his  hands  lifted,  and  his  voice  ur- 
gent and  full  of  horror.  He  retained  his  tragic  attitude 
and  aspect  for  a  little  after  he  had  ceased  speaking. 
Meanwhile  Helena  had  stolen  up  to  him,  and  stood  look- 
ing skyward  as  if  trying  to  see  what  he  saw.  Suddenly 
he  grasped  her  arm  with  one  hand  and  with  the  other 
pointed  with  anxious  look  toward  various  parts  of  the 
sky :  all  the  while  speaking  to  her  in  a  low  voice,  as  if 
explaining  what  they  saw.  He  had  an  apt  scholar.  She 
gave  frequent  nods  of  assent,  and  finally  clasped  and 
wrung  her  hands  with  as  dismayed  an  air  as  his  own. 

All  this  seemed  to  profoundly  impress  the  people  in 


318  THE   MAGICIAN". 

the  court,  on  whose  upturned  faces  the  many  lights  of  the 
stage  were  strongly  shining.  They  gazed  at  the  astrolo- 
ger with  open  mouths:  they  seemed  awe  struck  at  his 
fiery  words  and  majestic  bearing.  He  glanced  from  there 
to  Aleph — was  it  to  see  whether  the  same  effect  had  been 
produced  on  him?  At  all  events  he  saw  none.  A  per- 
fect composure  reigned  in  the  face  and  attitude  of  the 
young  man.  Simon  was  both  disconcerted  and  angry — 
as  was  plain  enough  to  the  sharp  young  eyes  that  never 
left  him. 

"  I  have  no  doubt/'  cried  he,  after  an  evident  effort 
to  recover  himself,  "  that  nearly  all  my  friends  under  the 
piazza  are  more  respectful  to  the  Celestial  Science  than 
the  one  whose  danger  and  misfortunes  have  just  been  re- 
vealed to  me.  But,  as  time  presses,  I  will  not  ask  them 
to  apply  for  horoscopes  to-night.  Let  them  come  to  me 
as  privately  as  they  choose  at  my  rooms  here  for  the  next 
few  days ;  and  it  will  be  strange  as  well  as  pitiful  if  the 
book  of  the  stars  does  not  read  more  pleasantly  for  them 
than  it  has  done  for  one  this  evening. '* 

He  made  a  sign  to  the  Nubians.  They  hastened  to 
fan  the  coals  in  the  brazier ;  and,  when  the  cauldron  had 
begun  to  seethe  again,  he  approached  and  dropped  in 
something  that  made  the  contents  hiss  and  leap  as  if  they 
would  burst  away  from  the  vessel.  He  then  drew  from 
under  his  mantle  a  sheet  of  papyrus  covered  with  writing, 
dipped  the  manuscript  into  the  cauldron,  lighted  it  at  the 
coals,  waved  it  toward  the  four  points  till  it  was  wholly 
consumed. 

He  made  another  sign  to  Helena.  She  went  to  one  of 
the  looped-up  curtains  and  drew  from  a  fold  in  it  with  an 
air  of  profound  reverence— a  wand.     This,  with  averted 


THE   MAGICIAN.  219 

eyes,  she  brought  to  Simon :  then  sank  on  her  knees  and 
covered  her  eyes  with  her  hand.  Whereupon  the  bhicks 
came  up  hastily  and  crouched  behind  her  with  all  the 
signs  of  abject  fear.  Dipping  the  end  of  the  wand  in  the 
cauldron,  the  magician  proceeded  to  describe  with  it  a 
large  circle  about  them  all.  Dipping  again,  he  traced 
just  within  the  circle  and  all  around  it  a  variety  of  char- 
acters— allowing  no  break,  however  small,  in  the  conti- 
nuity of  the  tracing.  The  lines  became  gradually  lumi- 
nous— first  the  circumference  of  the  circle,  then  the 
endless  chain  of  mystic  characters  within. 

"  The  Ephesian  Letters,"  whispered  Cimon  to  Aleph. 

There  was  an  intense  hush  of  fearful  expectation. 

*'  I  am  now  about,"  the  magician  cried  in  his  gravest 
tones,  *Ho  summon  here  mighty  genii  and  elemental 
spirits,  both  to  show  you  the  resources  of  my  art,  and  to 
convince  as  many  of  you  as  need  convincing  (and  the 
number  of  such  persons  is  not  small  in  these  days)  of  the 
reality  of  a  world  of  invisible  beings  possessing  great 
powers.  Many  of  these  spirits  are  exceedingly  mischiev- 
ous as  well  as  mighty,  and  would  be  glad  to  destroy  us 
all.  But  they  dare  not  cross  this  circle,  and  especially 
the  characters  traced  just  within  it — though  they  would 
do  so  if  they  could  find  the  least  break  in  the  lines.  I  am 
also  able  to  protect  those  of  you  without  this  circle — pro- 
vided certain  conditions  are  complied  with.  All  seats 
under  the  piazza  must  be  set  forward  from  the  wall  so  as 
to  allow  free  passage  behind  them  for  the  spirits :  and  in 
addition  every  one  must  remain  quietly  in  his  place, 
whatever  may  liappen  or  seem  to  be  happening,  till  I  dis- 
miss you.  To  all  complying  with  these  conditions  and 
keeping  a  reverent  attitude  of  mind  toward  the  spirits,  I 


220  THE    MAGICIAN. 

can  promise  entire  safety.  To  others  I  can  promise  noth- 
ing. Solomon  himself  could  ])romise  nothing.  I  wish 
all  of  you  to  distinctly  understand  that  I  will  not  be  re- 
sponsible for  even  the  lives  of  any  who  violate  these  con- 
ditions. I  warn  you  that  we  are  about  to  deal  with  very 
dangerous  beings,  and  that  I  can  only  control  them  un- 
der certain  provisos.  If  any  man  is  disposed  to  defy 
these  let  him  look  to  himself." 

Both  Cimon  and  Aleph  had  for  some  time  noticed  that 
the  single  lighted  lamp  that  hung  just  before  them  was 
getting  dimmer;  and  so  were  not  surprised  when  it  flick- 
ered and  expired  while  the  magician  was  speaking. 

The  man  was  now  looking  at  his  best.  He  seemed  to 
have  reserved  himself  for  this  time.  His  commanding 
stature,  his  powerful  and  oracular  face,  and  his  stately 
bearing  enriched  by  the  mysterious  and  becoming  robes 
of  his  art,  shone  out  very  impressively  under  the  brilliant 
lights  of  the  stage.  He  stood  in  the  centre  of  his  mag- 
ical circle,  with  his  wand  in  his  hand.  He  cast  the  wand 
on  the  floor.  Lo,  a  serpent,  gliding  along  with  erect  and 
hissing  head  till  it  came  to  the  luminous  belt  of  Ephesian 
Letters !  There  it  stopped ;  and  then  moved  along  the 
belt  slowly,  without  touching  it,  as  if  looking  for  some 
break  in  it,  till  it  reached  the  point  whence  it  started. 
Then  with  depressed  head  it  moved  back  silently  to  Si- 
mon, who  took  it  by  the  tail,  and  lo,  he  had  again  a  Avand 
in  his  hand. 

He  extended  it  toward  the  East  and  called  out  with  a 
great  voice  in  that  direction  certain  uncouth  names,  say- 
ing: 

'*  Genii,  s])irits  elemental  of  air,  of  fire,  of  earth,  and 
of  water !     By  the  bond  between  us,  by  this  wand  which 


THE   MAGICIAN.  221 

ye  know,  by  the  spells  I  have  woven,  by  this  magic  circle 
in  which  I  stand,  I  summon  you,  1  summon  youl'^ 

He  then  turned  toward  the  other  cardinal  points,  re- 
peating to  each  the  same  formula,  though  appealing  to 
different  personal  names.  At  once  there  fell  on  the  ear 
the  faint  beat  of  distant  wings.  Shadows  began  to  flit 
through  the  air,  and  monstrous  shapes  vaguely  showed 
themselves  on  the  walls  and  roofs  of  the  khan.  Then 
the  lights  on  the  stage  burned  blue,  grew  feeble,  flick- 
ered, went  out.  Everything  was  now  in  profound  dark- 
ness— save  that  on  the  stage  the  circumference  of  the 
circle  with  its  inlying  border  of  mystic  characters  was  be- 
come a  glowing  belt  that  cast  a  wierd  light  on  the  magi- 
cian and  his  cowering  companions,  but  seemed  to  have  no 
power  of  illuminating  beyond  the  stage.  Now  the  beat 
of  wings  was  heard  more  distinctly.  It  grew  apace. 
Soon  it  was  like  the  rush  of  winds — high  in  the  air  above 
the  stage,  and  at  various  points  in  the  passage  left  behind 
the  seats  under  the  piazza.  There  it  swept  along  with 
terrific  force — whistling  and  howling.  Into  these  noises 
others  immediately  insinuated  themselves.  Strange 
whisperings  and  mutterings  became  audible.  These  grad- 
ually passed  into  raps,  detonations,  groans,  shrieks ;  and 
occasionally  a  yell  so  fierce  and  demoniacal  as  to  be  ap- 
palling, rent  the  air  and  the  ear. 

But  the  chief  place  of  commotion  was  the  edge  of  the 
platform,  just  outside  of  the  fiery  zone.  Here,  all  the 
noises  that  were  scattered  elsewhere  were  condensed  and 
intensified  into  the  roar  of  a  tempest.  To  fiendish 
laughs  and  screeches  and  yells  that  made  the  ear  tingle 
were  added  the  hayings  of  many  sorts  of  wild  beasts  when 
hot  after  their  prey.     It  seemed  as  if  the  spirits  were 


222  THE   MAGICIAN. 

crowding  to  get  at  the  magician,  and  tear  him  limb  from 
limb,  and  were  chafed  to  madness  on  being  prevented  by 
the  magic  circle.  It  was  the  many-voiced  sea,  lashed  into 
fury,  leaping  in  spray  and  thunder  on  a  rock-bound  coast. 
What  a  carnival !  Was  hell  emptied?  And  through  the 
blackness  and  the  uproar  and  the  fury,  pierced  voices 
like  swords — voices  that  cried : 

"  We  are  here,  great  Master,  to  do  thy  bidding.  Lo, 
we  are  here !  " 

At  no  time  during  the  evening  had  Cimon,  or  even 
Aleph  with  his  younger  eyes,  been  able  to  see  who  occu- 
pied the  adjoining  seats  on  their  right  and  left.  These 
seats  had  not  been  taken  till  it  had  become  too  dark  to 
distinguish  faces  or  even  figures:  and  the  single  lamp  be- 
fore themselves  was  so  ensconced  among  the  ornaments 
of  the  eaves  of  the  piazza  that  it  threw  no  light  to  either 
side.  But  from  both  sides  they  occasionally  caught  low 
sounds  of  movements  and  voices ;  and  knew  very  well  that 
they  had  neighbors.  And  they  felt  quite  sure  that  if  an 
attack  should  be  made  upon  them  it  would  come  from 
those  nearest  to  them.  So,  as  soon  as  the  lights  had  all 
gone  out,  after^a  moment's  whispered  conference  to- 
gether, they  noiselessly  set  their  seat  back  against  the 
door  of  their  room,  and  as  noiselessly  took  stand  in  front 
of  it  and  facing  it,  but  at  a  distance  from  it  of  several 
feet — and  waited  for  what  might  happen. 

At  the  height  of  the  uproar  and  darkness,  their  ears 
caught  a  stealthy  movement  at  both  right  and  left ;  and 
then  the  careful  footfall  of  unsandalled  feet.  A  moment 
more,  and  there  was  a  stumbling  against  the  seat  they  had 
left,  as  of  men  who  luid  been  expecting  a  clear  passage ; 
while  they  felt  the  presence  of  others  just  before  them. 


THE   MAGICIAN.  223 

At  once  came  a  hasty  succession  of  heavy  blows,  as  of 
bhulgeons,  ou  tlie  seat  and  door  beliind  it.  Two  heavy 
thuds  promptly  followed,  and  as  many  groans  and  falls : 
for  both  Cimon  and  Aleph  had  struck  with  clenched 
hands  into  the  dark,  and  had  encountered  something 
more  substantial  than  sjnrits.  This  done,  they  stepped 
back  to  their  former  places  and  waited  for  what  might 
yet  follow.  Nothing  followed — save  the  sound  of  foot- 
steps hastily  retreating  to  the  right  and  left.  And,  all  at 
once,  the  hubbub  of  wierd  noises  began  to  lull ;  the  whis- 
pers and  howls  and  other  diabolic  sounds  dwindled  rap- 
idly ;  in  a  few  moments  the  rush  of  departing  wings  had 
died  away  in  the  distance. 

*'Nowgo  in  peace/^  cried  the  magician.  "If  any 
have  been  injured  by  the  Powers  I  have  summoned,  it  is 
because  they  did  not  obey  my  directions.  Their  blood  be 
on  their  own  heads.  I  take  you  to  witness  that  I  am  not 
responsible.'^ 

The  court  and  piazza  were  soon  emptied.  The  people 
had  been  too  soundly  frightened  to  stand  on  the  order  of 
their  going ;  and  rushed  out  pell-mell  through  the  dark- 
ness— overturning  benches  and  hurdles  and  one  another. 

During  this  final  U23roar,  which  was  almost  as  great  as 
the  spirits  had  made,  Aleph  felt  a  hand  on  his  shoulder, 
heard  a  whisper  at  his  ear — "  Shaphan  and  Nathan. '' 

"AVelcome,"  he  whispered  back.  *' Come  into  our 
room.'* 

They  removed  the  seat,  unlocked  the  door,  and  with 
the  aid  of  the  two  Jews  dragged  inside  the  bodies  which 
their  feet  had  encountered  on  the  floor.  Closing  the 
door,  they  struck  a  light  and  proceeded  to  examine  their 
still  insensible  assailants.     In  one  of  them  Aleph  had  no 


224  THE    MAGICIAN. 

dilHculty  in  recognizing  Antis :  in  the  other  Shaphan  and 
liis  brother  knew  Draco,  a  noted  bully  of  the  city,  at 
present  teacher  of  fence  at  the  Museum,  formerly  a 
trainer  of  gladiators  at  Rome,  and  well  known  as  a  dissi- 
pated companion  of  the  son  of  the  Governor.  Having 
satisfied  themselves  that  the  men  were  not  seriously  in- 
jured, and  needed  only  the  open  air  to  fully  recover,  they 
drew  them  out  again  on  the  piazza  and  there  left  them  to 
themselves — or  their  friends." 

The  brothers  then  explained  that  the  lady  Rachel  had 
sent  a  servant  to  them  after  their  return  home  to  recall 
them ;  and  had  begged  that  they  would  be  j^resent  at  the 
khan  in  the  evening  with  some  of  the  family  servants  and 
give  aid  to  her  friends  if  they  should  have  need.  But 
various  circumstances  had  delayed  them  so  that  they  did 
not  arrive  till  after  the  performance  had  begun;  when 
they  found  no  admission  to  the  piazza,  and  the  court  so 
densely  packed  that  it  was  almost  impossible  to  wedge 
their  way  to  the  neighborhood  of  Aleph  and  Cimon. 
This,  however,  in  the  course  of  the  evening  they  had,  by 
dint  of  constant  effort,  succeeded  in  doing,  and  were  quite 
near  when  the  assault  was  made  and  the  assembly  broke 
up.  They  then  dashed  violently  through  the  crowd,  and 
over  the  hurdles — fearing  the  worst,  for  they  had  heard 
the  blows,  the  groans,  and  the  heavy  falls.  Thank 
Heaven,  it  was  the  enemy  that  fell ! 

Very  cordial  acknowledgments  were  made  to  the 
friendly  Jews.  In  addition,  Aleph  sat  down  and  wrote 
on  a  piece  of  papyrus  the  following : 

"Aleph  the  Chaldean,  to  the  daughter  of  Alexander, 
sends  greeting: 

''  This  is  to  express  my  sense  of  the  kindness  you  have 


THE    MAGICIAN.  225 

shown  to  the  eastern  stnmgers  in  sending  help  to  them 
this  night  in  their  supposed  danger.  And  truly  the  dan- 
ger was  considerable ;  but  through  the  favor  of  the  Most 
High  Ave  have  escaped  the  assault  made  upon  us,  and  have 
come  to  understand  better  than  before  the  difference  be- 
tween the  marvels  of  Jesus  and  the  marvels  of  the  magi- 
cian. The  latter  are  due  partly  to  illusion  and  ventrilo- 
quism, partly  to  occult  natural  law,  and  partly  to  diabol- 
ism. They  are  favored  by  darkness  and  distance,  depend 
on  prejjarations  and  compacts  and  machinery,  proceed 
from  an  unworthy  person,  seek  unworthy  objects,  are 
aided  by  unworthy  Powers,  are  connected  with  phe- 
nomena that  betray  a  diabolic  origin,  and  are  wholly 
depraving  and  mischievous  in  their  tendency. 

' '  When  the  bearers  of  this  give  you  an  account  of  what 
they  have  seen  and  heard,  you  will,  I  doubt  not,  see  new 
reason  to  believe  in  Him  who  casts  out  devils  instead  of 
invoking  them. 

"  May  the  God  of  Abraham  and  Daniel,  the  Chaldeans, 
keep  you ! 

*' Farewell !'' 

When  the  Jews  stepped  out  on  the  piazza  they  found 
that  the  bodies  were  no  longer  there.  Doubtless  they 
had  recovered  consciousness  and  taken  themselves  off. 

Magic  and  miracle!  Two  very  different  things, 
thought  Aleph  again,  as  he  recalled,  in  the  solitude  to 
which  he  was  now  left,  the  account  which  Nathan  had 
given  of  the  storm  on  the  Sea  of  Galilee. 

Did  ever  night  with  blacker  wing 

Swoop  down  upon  the  sea? 
Did  ever  storm  with  fiercer  flail 

Smite  Sea  of  Galilee  ? 


/ 


226  THE    MAGICIAN. 


God  help  yon  bubble  bark  that  leaps 

Against  a  ray  less  sky — 
God  help  yon  bubble  bark  flung  back 

In  rayless  gulfs  to  die ! 

The  gates  of  hell  are  open  wide, 
Its  fiends  outscream  the  blast ; 

*'  Up  with  the  bubble  boat  on  high  I 
This  plunge  shall  be  the  last." 

Alas,  alas  I  ye  helpless  men 

Who  to  the  skies  are  tost — 
Just  hanging  to  the  lion's  mane, 

What  can  ye  be  but  lost? 

Yet  cry  for  help  —  Where  is  the  King?— 

Ye  have  not  far  to  seek ; 
Within  your  very  bark  is  One 

Who  storms  to  calms  can  speak. 

He  speaks — at  once  the  stars  look  down 

Upon  a  waveless  sea ; 
The  peace  of  God  is  in  thy  winds, 

0  breathless  Galilee  I 

And  ever  when  we  cry  through  storms. 

To  Christ  our  cry  should  be ; 
Low  bow  all  waves  and  winds  and  fiends 

To  Him  of  Galilee. 


X. 

THE    ARENA. 

McyaAa  irpTjyfiaTa  fieyuTioai  KivSvvouffi. 

— Herodotus,  vii.  50. 

Great  results  from  great  dangers. 


1.  An  anxious  friend. 

2.  Seti  defends  himself 

3.  So  does  Alephi. 

-4.   ^A/tlo  is  to  blan:ie? 


X. 

THE  ARENA. 

AN  evening  of  such  experiences  as  we  have  just  de- 
-^^j^  scribed  would  be  followed  by  a  sleepless  night  in 
the  case  of  most  persons  at  the  present  day.  But  those 
were  adventurous  times ;  the  element  of  uncertainty  and 
peril  entered,  into  them  far  more  largely  than  it  does  into 
our  daily  life;  and  the  habit  of  coolly  accepting  the  sit- 
uation and  accommodating  themselves  to  it  was  common 
among  men  of  standing  and  courage.  So  the  reader  must 
not  be  surprised  to  learn  that  our  friends,  after  thanking 
Heaven  for  their  preservation,  slept  about  as  soundly 
through  the  night  as  if  they  had  suffered  no  narrow  es- 
cape and  were  anticipating  nothing  but  safety  on  the  mor- 
row. 

Their  morning  devotions  and  meal  had  been  finished, 
and  they  were  conferring  as  to  Seti's  proposal  that  they 
should  remove  to  the  Serapeum,  when  a  knock  was  heard 
on  their  door,  and  the  high  priest  himself  made  his  ap- 
pearance. 

*' What  means  all  this?"  he  exclaimed,  as  he  closed 
the  door  behind  him  and  took  the  rude  stool  which  was 
all  that  Aleph  had  to  offer  him  ;  "  the  whole  khan  behind 
time,  everything  in  a  litter,  the  staging  in  the  court  in 


230  THE   ARENA. 

the  last  stages  of  a  debauch ;  above  all  the  clubs  before 
your  door  and  the  battered  state  of  the  door  itself,  to  say 
nothing  of  the  broken  seat  before  it !  " 

Cimon  explained. 

"  Now  you  see  why  I  am  here  so  early  this  morning/' 
resumed  the  priest.  "  My  thoughts  were  so  full  of  ap- 
prehension on  your  account  during  the  night  that  I  could 
not  sleep ;  and  I  determined  that  as  soon  as  possible  in 
the  morning  I  would  seek  you  out  and  again  urge  you  to 
remove  at  once  to  the  Serapeum.  This  evidently  is  no 
place  for  you.  It  is  plain  that  Mains  and  the  son  of  the 
governor  have  gotten  into  communication  with  each 
other  and  have  joined  their  forces — plain  that  the  chief 
object  of  the  doings  here  last  night  was  a  three  fold  as- 
sault on  you  through  your  fears,  through  magical  powers, 
and  through  human  assassins.  These  were  the  three 
strings  to  their  bow.  They  hoped  that  if  the  others 
failed  the  clubs  of  Draco  and  his  helpers  would  do  the 
work  and  the  magical  powers  which  you  defied  take  all 
the  blame  of  it.  You  see  with  what  characters  you  have 
to  deal.  Behold  a  fair  sample  of  what  these  men  are  ca- 
pable of  doing.  So  come  to  the  Serapeum  without  de 
lay." 

"  We  were  speaking  of  your  kind  offer  just  as  you 
came  in,"  said  Cimon,  "and  were  debating  whether  we 
could  properly  accept  it ;  and  had  about  cotne  to  the  con- 
clusion that  we  could  not  do  so  without  dragging  the 
only  friends  we  have  in  Alexandria  into  trouble  with 
powerful  people — which  would  ])e  a  poor  return  for  the 
kindness  we  have  received." 

"Leave  me  to  judge,"  returned  Seti  coolly,  "  as  to 
the  amount  of  trouble  I  can  afford  to  be  at  for  your  sake. 


THE  ARENA.  231 

The  offer  I  make  is  made  freely  in  view  of  the  circum- 
stances." 

""  We  have  been  afraid/'  said  Aleph,  "  that  your  view 
of  the  circumstances  is  not  as  complete  as  it  should  be  be- 
fore we  allow  your  generous  kindness  to  embroil  you  with 
perhaps  the  government  itself.  You  already  know  that 
Malus  supposes  himself  seriously  in  danger  from  us,  and 
that  so  we  are  seriously  in  danger  from  him.  But  you 
have  not  known  distinctly  who  we  are,  and  what  we  pro- 
pose to  do.  As  to  who  we  are,  we  are  still  compelled  to 
be  silent ;  but  it  is  fitting  that  you  learn  now  the  nature 
of  Cimon's  relations  to  Malus.  Cimon  is  the  dear  friend 
and  business  manager  of  an  eastern  trader  who  for  many 
years  has  had  large  dealings  with  Malus — consigning  to 
him  a  large  amount  of  costly  eastern  goods  yearly.  We 
now  find,  what  has  long  been  suspected,  that  the  con- 
signee has  made  false  returns  as  to  the  amount  of  goods 
received,  and  prices  obtained  for  them,  and  the  duties 
levied  on  them  at  this  port.  Complete  proof  of  this,  as 
we  suppose,  is  contained  in  the  parcel  of  papers  put  into 
your  hands  yesterday.  We  also  cannot  doubt  that  a  com- 
parison of  these  papers  with  the  custom  house  registers 
(which  comparison  we  have  not  been  able  to  make)  would 
show  that  Malus  has  defrauded  the  government  as  well  as 
ourselves,  and  perhaps  that  officials  are  in  collusion  with 
him.  The  interests  he  has  at  stake,  therefore,  are  so 
large  that  he  is  sure  to  be  as  bitterly  hostile  to  our  friends 
as  to  us.  And  besides,  as  you  see,  he  seems  to  have  se- 
cured a  hold  of  some  sort  on  the  Roman  authorities  them- 
selves. So  the  man  who  undertakes  to  befriend  us  un- 
dertakes a  great  deal.  We  are  very  reluctant  to  embroil 
you,  and  perhaps  the  family  of  the  Alabarch  in  so  serious 


232  THE   ARENA. 

a  trouble.  On  this  account  we  have  refrained  from  ask- 
ing advice  from  you  in  regard  to  our  preliminary  move- 
ments." 

"  The  case  as  stated  by  you,"  replied  Seti,  still  with 
the  utmost  coolness,  "  is  not  worse  than  I  supposed;  and 
I  still  press  my  invitation.  Trouble  there  will  be,  no 
doubt ;  but,  then,  if  I  do  not  accept  this  trouble  I  shall 
have  a  greater  from  another  quarter;  for  my  grand- 
daughter sent  a  messenger  to  me  this  morning  as  soon  as 
it  was  light  to  stir  me  up  to  do  what  I  am  now  doing.  If 
I  were  to  be  backward  in  this  matter,"  he  added  with  a 
smile,  "I  am  afraid  she  would  rouse  all  my  students 
against  me ;  which  she  could  easily  do,  for  she  is  a  queen 
to  P.  Cornelius.  Moreover,  it  is  barely  possible  that 
both  Alexander  and  myself  have  just  a  little  of  that  gen- 
erous indignation  at  wickedness  that  led  certain  persons 
of  our  acquaintance  to  stand  up  for  us  without  counting 
the  cost.  Who  gave  Greeks  and  Chaldeans  a  monopoly 
of  that  sort  of  thing?  No,  friends,  you  must  not  ask 
me  to  do  what  you  would  not,  I  am  confident,  be  willing 
to  do  yourselves." 

Of  course  nothing  more  was  to  be  said.  And  our 
friends  said  nothing  more — save  thanks.  It  was  agreed 
that  they  should  send  their  effects  at  once  to  the  Sera- 
peum  by  certain  servants  whom  Seti  had  left  without, 
and  follow  them  in  person  in  the  course  of  the  day. 

This  matter  being  disposed.of,  Seti  continued,  "  Now 
tell  me  what  steps  you  have  taken  to  bring  that  arch- 
rogue  to  justice." 

"  I  have  done  nothing,"  said  Cimon,  *'  save  to  collect 
evidence;  and  have  been  uncertain  what  further  steps  to 
take." 


THE   ARENA.  233 


a 


You  should  put  your  proofs  at  once  in  the  hands  of 
Alexander's  lawyer.  If  he  judges  them  sufficient  for  this 
latitude  and  for  a  Roman  Court  (for  a  Roman  Court  it 
must  be,  since  the  case  is  between  a  Greek  and  a  Jew), 
let  him  put  things  in  train  without  delay.  You  could 
find  no  more  skillful  advocate ;  and  he  has  the  further 
advantage,  somewhat  rare  in  his  profession,  of  being  an 
honest  man.  This  in  itself  Avill  instinctively  enlist  him 
against  such  a  rogue  as  Malus.  He  will  do  all  he  can  to 
bring  the  fellow  to  justice.'' 

"  Can  you  tell  me  what  the  prospects  for  justice  in  a 
Roman  Court  are?" 

"  The  Roman  law,  in  general,  is  just;  but  a  case  has 
to  be  very  clear  or  the  strong  rogues,  in  Alexandria  as 
elsewhere,  will  manage  to  escape  by  means  of  the  eva- 
sions, delays,  appeals,  and  various  tricks  that  are  pur- 
chasable by  the  free  use  of  money.  It  is  said  that  all 
things  are  venal  at  Rome.  I  am  afraid  the  state  of  things 
is  no  better  in  Alexandria.  Malus  will  use  money  freely 
— can  you  do  the  same?" 

'^That  depends,"  said  Cimon.  "For  such  purposes 
as  the  collecting  of  evidence  and  the  securing  of  the 
ablest  advocate  that  can  be  had,  I  say  Ves  to  your  ques- 
tion. For  the  purpose  of  bribing  the  judges,  I  say 
JVo." 

*'  This  is  the  answer  I  expected  from  you.  But  your 
enemy  has  no  scruples.  He  will  have  the  freedom  of  all 
means — righteous  and  unrighteous.  In  this  respect  he 
has  much  the  advantage  over  you — always  provided  that 
there  is  no  God,  and  that  there  is  a  devil.  But  in  certain 
other  important  respects  you  have  an  advantage  over 
him.'^ 


234  THE   ARENA. 

"  Will  yon  tell  us  in  what?"  suggested  Aleph. 

'*  First,  in  the  intrinsic  justice  of  your  cause;  fori 
have  no  doubt  that  the  case  is  as  you  have  stated  it. 
Next,  the  evil  repute  of  Malus  among  the  better  class  of 
people  is  against  him.  They  all  know  that  he  is  capable 
of  doing  just  the  sort  of  thing  you  charge  against  him — 
that,  in  fact,  he  has  done  it  in  multitudes  of  cases  and  has 
only  escaped  by  the  terror  which  he  inspires  in  people  too 
weak  financially  and  otherwise  to  contend  with  him.  It 
is  worth  while  for  even  Koman  judges  to  make  some  ac- 
count of  the  higher  grades  of  public  opinion.  Further, 
it  would  not  be  strange  if  many  of  the  small  victims  of 
Malus  should  summon  courage  in  the  presence  of  so  large 
a  suit  as  yours  to  appear  against  him  with  an  amount  of 
testimony  that  would  be  overwhelming." 

''  I  understand  then,"  said  Cimon,  *Hhat  even  if  our 
proofs  are  legally  complete,  we  still  have  reason  to  fear 
that  venality  on  the  part  of  the  judges  and  hostility  on 
the  part  of  the  Governor  and  other  officials  will  find 
means  to  set  them  aside." 

"  Yes— it  certainly  is  to  be  feared.  Malus  has  un- 
doubtedly patched  up  an  alliance,  if  not  with  the  Gov- 
ernor himself,  at  least  with  Romans  who  can  bring  heavy 
infiuence  to  bear  upon  him  and  so  on  the  courts.  We 
must  not  shut  our  eyes  on  this  fact.  It  is  our  main  dis- 
advantage. But  to  offset  this  the  Alabarch  and  myself 
can  also  bring  heavy  influences — and  they  shall  not  be 
wanting." 

'*  We  are  fortunate  and  thankful  to  find  such  friends 
—especially  as  we  have  no  choice  but  to  proceed.  We 
will  proceed  and  trust  Heaven  for  the  result.  I  think 
til  is  is  the  conclusion  to  which  we  have  come,  and  that 


THE   ARENA.  235 

we  tire  ready  to  authorize  our  friend  to  place  our  papers 
in  the  hands  of  the  advocate  he  proposes,"  and  he  looked 
inquiringly  at  Aleph. 

Alepli  slightly  bowed.  After  a  moment,  however,  he 
added : 

'*  Still  I  would  be  glad  if,  before  legal  proceedings  are 
begun,  we  could  give  Malus  an  opportunity  to  retrace  his 
steps.  I  would  like  to  try  what  effect  expostulation  un- 
der the  perils  of  his  situation  would  have.  The  Most 
High  practices  forbearance  to  sinners ;  and  such  I  under- 
stand is  the  practice  of  the  Messiah  toward  his  enemies. 
His  miracles  show  that  he  has  power  enough  to  over- 
whelm them  all  with  the  greatest  ease,  but  he  forbears  and 
tries  on  them  the  effect  of  more  light  and  expostulation. 
I  would  be  glad  to  imitate  God  and  His  Christ." 

Seti  started  to  his  feet  in  amazement. 

*'And  this  after  your  very  lives  have  been  so  foully 
assailed!  This  way  of  doing  things  is  neither  Egyptian, 
nor  Greek,  nor  Koman,  nor  even  Jewish — however  God- 
like and  Christ  like  it  may  be." 

'*  I  confess,"  said  Cimon,  ^'  that  I  have  something  of 
the  feeling  that  my  young  friend  has  expressed.  I  am 
reluctant  to  drive  a  man  to  what  may  prove  his  ruin 
without  giving  him  a  chance  for  his  life.  To  be  sure,  I 
have  small  hope  of  a  favorable  result  from  any  appeal  we 
can  make  to  the  conscience  and  fears  of  Malus.  But  I 
should  feel  easier  if  it  were  made." 

**Well,  be  it  so!"  said  Seti  after  a  short  silence. 
*'  Make  the  experiment.  See  what  merciful  dealings  can 
do.  At  the  most,  it  only  means  the  delay  of  a  day  or  so. 
.  .  .  Now  let  us  see  what  you  will  ivrite  to  this  promising 
candidate   for  repentance  and    reformation:    for   I   will 


236  THE   ARENA. 

never  give  my  consent  that  you  go  in  person  into  the  den 
of  such  a  serpent." 

Aleph  looked  at  Cimon.  The  Greek  nodded.  The 
young  man  seated  himself  at  a  table  and  slowly  wrote  as 
follows : 

^'  Cimon,  manager  and  representative,  to  Mains,  con- 
signee and  merchant. 

"  It  has  been  discovered  that  the  returns  which  you 
have  made  for  many  years  to  the  business  which  I  repre- 
sent are  not  in  accordance  with  the  facts,  and  that  now  a 
very  large  sum  of  money  is  due  us.  I  am  reluctant  to 
appeal  to  the  courts  to  enforce  our  claims ;  and  hope  that 
your  sense  of  justice  and  of  responsibility  to  a  Higher 
Power  will  make  such  an  appeal  unnecessary.  A  satis- 
factory assurance  from  you  of  regret  for  the  past  and  an 
upright  purpose  for  the  future  will  dispose  me  to  abate 
much  from  my  just  claim  upon  you. 

^'  Let  me  hear  from  you  to-day  at  the 

Khan  Racliotis, ' ' 


(( 


I  have  great  misgivings  as  to  this  merciful  plan  of 
yours,"  said  Seti,  "and  only  give  my  consent  to  it  on 
condition  that  you  authorize  me  to  place  your  papers  in 
the  hands  of  our  advocate  at  once,  without  waiting  to  see 
the  result  of  your  appeal.  If  it  is  successful  you  can  re- 
call the  parcel  unbroken.  Otherwise  it  is  to  be  used 
without  delay.     You  agree?" 

"  So  be  it,"  said  Cimon. 

"  Does  the  parcel  contain  as  full  an  explanation  of  the 
case  as  the  advocate  will  need?" 

"So  it  seems  to  me." 

This  ended  the  conversation.     A  servant  of  the  khan 


THE   AREKA.  237 

was  immediately  called  and  dispatched  with  the  letter  to 
Malus.  Seti  himself  remained  till  he  had  seen  the  main 
effects  of  his  friends  put  into  the  hands  of  two  servants 
of  his  own  for  transference  to  the  Serapeum.  It  was 
agreed  that  the  owners  should  follow  as  soon  as  possible. 

As  chance  would  have  it  (I  confess  that  I  dislike  such 
language  on  both  scientific  and  religious  grounds),  they 
were  not  detained  long.  Their  messenger  met  Malus  at 
no  great  distance  from  the  khan ;  and  soon  returned  with 
a  spoken  message  that  they  should  either  see  or  hear  from 
him  at  the  khan  early  the  coming  evening. 

AYliat  should  they  do  in  the  meantime?  Aleph  con- 
sulted his  programme  of  lectures,  and  found  that  Seti 
was  to  sj)eak  at  the  third  hour  in  his  course  on  Compara- 
tive Religions — special  topic,  The  Religion  of  Egypt, 
They  would  settle  with  their  landlord  and  then  leisurely 
find  their  way  to  the  lecture.  They  were  curious  to  hear 
what  the  high-priest  of  Egypt  would  say  about  its  relig- 
ion. Perhaps  they  would  get  some  light  on  the  mystery 
of  his  position. 

Accordingly,  in  due  time  they  found  themselves  in 
the  lecture-room  of  the  Serapeum.  They  noticed  that 
the  room  was  fuller  than  before,  and  conjectured  that 
this  was  owing  to  the  special  interest  felt  in  the  topic  to 
be  discussed.  Seti  evidently  noticed  their  presence  as  he 
came  in  and  passed  near  them  to  his  seat  on  the  dais. 

AVhat  follows  is  a  condensed  statement  of  the  main 
points  of  the  lecture — without  the  vigorous  argument  and 
abundant  illustrations  by  which  these  points  were  sup- 
ported. 

Seti  began  with  reminding  the  students  that  he  had 
in  previous  lectures  on  the  origin  and  history  of  religion 


238  THK   ARENA. 

expressed  the  conviction  that  its  earliest  stage  in  all 
countries  was  monotheism.  The  evidence  of  this,  he 
thought  to  be  especially  clear  in  the  case  of  Egypt.  All 
his  researches  had  converged  on  a  remote  time  when  the 
Egyptian  temples  contained  no  visible  object  of  worship ; 
but  were  dedicated  to  a  single  spiritual  Being  who  was 
supposed  to  be  the  eternal,  almighty,  and  all  wise  creator 
of  all  things  else,  and  who  was  to  be  worshipped  by 
prayer  and  praise  and  gifts  and  sacrifice.  They  called 
Him  Amun  Re. 

How  long  the  popular  religion  remained  at  this  point 
is  not  known.  Nor  is  it  known  by  any  record  how  a 
change  came  to  take  place.  But  probably  it  was  after 
this  manner.  Some  of  the  ruder  people  began  to  use 
visible  symbols  of  the  Great  Spirit  to  assist  their  concep- 
tion and  devotion;  and  by  degrees  their  example  was 
copied  extensively  by  the  people  at  large.  The  next  step 
was  to  pass  from  the  worship  of  the  Being  symbolized  to 
the  worship  of  the  symbol  itself — a  thing  about  as  easy  as 
the  descent  of  rivers  to  the  sea. 

Before  long  there  crept  in  a  new  element.  The  peo- 
ple had  all  along  believed,  as  all  other  nations  have  done, 
in  a  multitude  of  invisible  beings,  intermediate  between 
the  Supreme  and  man  in  dignity  and  faculty,  and  having 
more  or  less  influence  over  human  fortunes.  These, 
whether  supposed  good  or  bad,  the  people  gradually  came 
to  think  it  worth  while  to  propitiate  by  various  services 
and  honors,  very  much  as  they  were  accustomed  to  do  to 
the  various  grades  of  powerful  officials  under  the  Pha- 
raohs; and  in  process  of  time  the  services  and  honors 
given  to  these  minor  but  nearer  deities  grew  to  over- 
shadow those  of  Amun  Uc  hiniself, 


THE   ARENA.  239 

This  secondary  worship,  too,  found  symbols  natural 
and  convenient.  Its  objects  were  invisible  beings  hard 
to  be  conceived  of  and  realized.  In  this  case  the  familiar 
animals  of  the  country  were  taken  as  symbols.  Foreign- 
ers have  sometimes  wondered  at  this,  and  perhaps  with 
some  reason ;  but  there  are  not  wanting  philosophers  who 
say  that  even  the  humblest  living  creature  is  a  more  won- 
derful object  than  any  dead  statue  can  be,  though  of  the 
most  precious  material  and  exquisite  workmanship ;  and 
that  it  better  represents  the  wisdom  and  power  of  a  living 
spiritual  being.  AVhatever  one  may  think  of  the  pro- 
priety of  this  animal  symbolism,  it  was  certainly  general 
in  Egypt  at  a  very  early  period.  And  men  went  as  nat- 
urally from  such  a  symbolism  to  a  worship  of  the  sym- 
bols themselves  as  they  did  to  sin  and  death. 

But  where,  meanwhile,  was  the  priesthood  of  Amun 
Re  ?  Through  all  these  changes  among  the  lower  orders 
the  higher  Egyptian  priesthood  held  fast  the  original 
theory  of  religion.  To  them  there  was  still  but  one  God 
to  whom  religious  worship  should  be  paid,  and  He  should 
be  worshipped  without  symbol.  So  they  resisted  the 
downward  drift — resisted  it  strongly.  But  the  popular 
current  was  too  strong  for  them.  And,  after  long  strug- 
gling against  it  unsuccessfully,  they  came  by  degrees  to 
feel  that  the  lower  orders  are  incapable  of  worthily  grasp- 
ing and  appropriating  a  strictly  spiritual  religion — that 
the  gross  thoughts  and  cares  and  toils  amid  which  their 
lives  are  necessarily  spent  make  a  grosser  form  of  religion 
a  necessity  to  them.  The  heavens  are  best  read  and  un- 
derstood from  eminences — how  can  the  stars  of  the  higher 
truth  be  seen  to  advantage  save  from  the  eminences  of 
human  life  with  their  culture  and  leisure  and  broad  out- 


240  THE   ARENA. 

look?  They  cannot.  It  must  not  be  expected.  A  spir- 
itual religion  is  not  for  the  vulgar.  It  is  too  high  and 
sacred  for  common  handling.  It  were  a  profanation  of 
the  lofty  and  holy  to  put  them  into  such  hands  as  hold 
our  plows,  work  our  quarries,  and  embalm  our  dead. 

These  views  at  first  tolerated,  then  favored,  next  em- 
braced and  justified,  and  finally  established  as  a  policy 
and  institution,  made  two  worlds  in  Egypt,  with  a  great 
abyss  between  them,  which  have  continued  down  to  the 
present  time.  On  the  one  hand  has  been  the  world  of 
Pharaohs,  priests  and  philosophers  holding  fast  the  prim- 
itive religion  of  Egypt  as  a  sacred  Mystery :  on  the  other 
hand  has  been  a  world  of  peasants  and  idolaters  judged 
unfit  for  such  high  knowledge  and  carefully  excluded 
from  it. 

"Such,"  continued  Seti,  "was  the  Egypt  which  I 
found.  Such  was  the  policy,  solid  and  venerable  with 
the  approval  and  practice  of  thousands  of  years,  that  I 
inherited.  It  was  an  ungrateful  inheritance.  I  came 
early  to  doubt  its  wisdom  and  righteousness ;  and  by  the 
time  when  power  came  into  my  hands  I  had  made  up  my 
mind  to  resist  and  forsake  it  just  as  far  and  fast  as  possi- 
ble. I  knew  that  a  sudden  change  was  not  wisely  possi- 
ble. I  realized  that  reforms  of  ancient  evils  that  have 
become  intertwined  with  the  whole  structure  of  society 
must  be  carefully  and  gradually  made.  Else  social  con- 
vulsions will  follow.  More  damage  would  come  from 
violent  and  precipitate  measures  than  would  come  from 
the  evil  they  attack.  With  the  power  of  an  emperor  I 
could  not  have  wisely  abolished  the  old  order  of  things  by 
edict. 

"All  this  I  felt  profoundly.    And  so  when  the  supreme 


THE   ARENA.  241 

priesthood  came  to  me,  while  1  determined  to  proceed  at 
"  once  and  thoroughly  to  the  great  problem  of  restoring  our 
religion  to  its  primitive  purity  among  the  lower  classes,  I 
also  determined  to  proceed  cautiously.  I  labored  to 
change  the  views  of  the  priesthood  already  on  the  stage. 
As  director  of  all  the  schools  for  young  priests,  I  sought 
to  shape  their  education  toward  the  original  order  of 
things.  I  enlarged  as  much  as  possible  the  number  of 
the  initiated  in  the  higher  classes.  I  took  pains  (how 
much  some  of  you  well  know)  to  impress  my  views  on  the 
young  men  gathered  here  for  education  from  all  parts  of 
the  world — hoping  that  the  truth  would  filter  down 
through  the  upper  strata  into  the  lower  and  the  lowest. 
And,  further,  I  have  persuaded  and  instructed  the  priests 
who  deal  directly  with  the  common  people  to  push  into 
the  background,  more  and  more,  the  secondary  deities — 
to  bring  to  the  front,  more  and  more,  the  Supreme  One ; 
and  to  insist  upon  it  that  there  be  no  worship  of  the 
symbols  of  even  Him,  only  of  the  Being  symbolized ;  all 
to  prepare  the  way  for  withdrawing  the  symbols  them- 
selves. 

"  I  may  have  been  too  lingering  and  indirect  in  my 
action.  Some  of  my  friends  think  as  much.  It  is  not 
easy  to  judge  in  such  matters.  I  would  be  glad  if  we 
could  have  a  Divine  Teacher,  such  as  Plato  craved, 
to  tell  us  with  authority  exactly  what  to  do.  But 
until  He  comes  (if  indeed  He  has  not  already  come) 
we  must  take  the  course  that  seems  to  promise  the 
most  good  with  the  least  harm.  Unsuccessful  violence 
on  the  traditional  religious  habits  of  the  people  would  be 
likely  to  give  us  political  and  social  convulsions  which 
would  be  bad  enough :  successful  violence  would  be  likely 


242  THE   ARENA. 

to  give  us  general  atheism  which  would  be  worse.  Young 
men  (and  his  voice  grew  graver  and  more  emphatic  as 
his  eye  went  searchingly  around  among  the  earnest  faces). 
Young  men,  remember  that  there  is  something  worse  than 
worshipping  Nilus,  or  the  ibis :  it  is  the  not  loorshipinng 

at  all.^^ 

The  students  now  supposed  the  lecture  finished ;  but 
after  a  silence  of  a  few  moments  Seti  added : 

*'  Some  of  you  may  feel  like  asking  how  this  course  of 
mine  can  consist  with  the  position  I  hold  as  head  of  the 
Egyptian  religion.  If  an  answer  to  this  is  not  sufficiently 
implied  in  what  I  have  said  already,  let  me  add  that  I  re- 
gard myself  as  being  the  high-priest  of  the  original  relig- 
ion of  Egypt,  according  to  our  ancient  institutions ;  and 
do  not  feel  bound  to  the  variations  from  it  that  have  been 
mistakenly  introduced  by  others.  Further,  in  the  course 
I  am  pursuing  I  have  the  approval  of  most  of  those  who 
have  always  had  in  charge  the  religious  concerns  of  the 
country — the  higher  priesthood.  And  still  further,  I  am 
not  chargeable  with  double-dealing — for,  as  you  will  bear 
me  witness,  I  make  no  secret  of  my  views  and  purposes; 
and  my  position  does  not  require  me  to  officiate  at  the 
worship  of  any  secondary  deity,  but  only  at  that  of  Amun 
Re  Himself.  Even  the  symbols  of  Him  under  the  name 
of  Serapis  I  do  not  now  use  either  in  public  or  private. 
The  statue  of  Him  belonging  to  this  temple  has  not  been 
before  the  public  for  a  number  of  years." 

This  concluded  the  lecture.  But  the  young  men,  too 
much  interested  in  both  the  manner  and  the  matter  of 
their  teacher  to  be  in  any  hurry  to  get  away,  were  still 
lingering  in  their  seats,  when  a  young  man  appeared  at 
the  door  and  politely  asked  their  attention.     He  said  that 


THE   ARENA.  243 

he  had  been  deputed  by  the  Museum  to  lay  a  certain  com- 
plaint before  them.  It  appeared  that  a  stranger  had  been 
received  to  student  matriculation  by  the  Serapeum  with- 
out actual  testing  in  athletics.  This  step  was  certainly 
very  unusual,  if  not  wholly  unprecedented ;  and  the  Mu- 
seum felt  obliged  to  complain  of  it  after  a  fraternal  and 
gentlemanly  fashion,  and  to  ask  that  the  ancient  usage  of 
the  University  may  not  be  violated. 

Publius  Cornelius  sprang  to  his  feet.  "  It  is,  I  be- 
lieve, according  to  the  ancient  usage  of  the  University 
that  the  examination  which  satisfies  one  of  its  depart- 
ments shall  satisfy  the  other  also.  I  beg  to  inform  Quin- 
tius  Metellus  that  we  examined  the  candidate  to  whom 
he  refers  as  to  athletic  matters,  and  were  abundantly  sat- 
isfied with  the  examination." 

"  Still  it  appears,"  blandly  returned  the  somewhat 
foppish  and  fast  looking  young  Metellus,  "that  no 
actual  trial  of  strength  and  skill  was  made ;  and  the  Mu- 
seum cannot  but  think  that  if  the  new-comer  is  really  de- 
serving of  such  exceptional  treatment  he  will  be  willing 
to  content  us  with  an  actual  instead  of  an  imaginary  test- 
ing in  the  more  advanced  athletics.  The  Museum  has 
presumed  on  his  willingness,  and  is  at  this  moment  pres- 
ent in  a  body  in  your  gymnasium  awaiting  his  appear- 
ance." 

**  This  seems  to  me,"  began  P.  Cornelius  in  a  tone 
just  a  little  tinged  with  indignation — but  Aleph,  making 
a  sign  to  him,  interposed: 

"I  beg,"  said  he,  "that  our  president  will  not  press 
his  view.  I  am  quite  willing  to  content  the  Museum, 
and  should  be  sorry  to  have  any  feel  that  an  ancient 
usage  of  the  University  has  been  unreasonably  set  aside 


244  THE   ARENA. 

in  my  favor.  I  hope,  therefore,  that  the  Serapeum  will 
yield  to  the  wishes  of  the  Museum." 

"This  is  very  satisfactory,"  returned  Q.  Metellus. 
"But  I  am  also  instructed  to  say  that  inasmuch  as  the 
social  standing  of  the  new  student  is  unknown  to  us,  it 
seems  to  us  that  the  testing  should  be  on  the  more  gen- 
tlemanly accomplishments.  This  will  throw  some  light 
on  whether  he  is  entitled  to  mingle  on  equal  terms 
with  the  representatives  of  the  best  families  of  the 
empire." 

"Nonsense!"  exclaimed  P.  Cornelius.  "Use  your 
eyes,  Metellus !  " 

But  Aleph  gravely  said,  "I  do  not  object  to  the  new 
proposition  of  the  Museum." 

"One  more  particular,  and  I  have  finished  my  mis- 
sion. The  Museum  also  requests  that  the  testing  may  be 
by  our  professional  teachers  of  equestrianism  and  fence. 
The  testing  is  likely  to  be  more  scientifically  done;  and 
if  well  sustained  will  be  more  creditable  to  the  candidate. 
I  hope  he  will  gratify  us  also  in  this  particular." 

"In  this  particular  also,"  said  Aleph  quietly — "as- 
suming that  nothing  unfair  is  intended,  and  that  I  shall 
not  be  asked  to  attempt  anything  which  the  trainer  is 
not  willing  to  attempt  himself." 

"This  condition  is  reasonable — do  you  accept  it?" 
demanded  Cornelius.  Receiving  a  nod  of  assent,  he  con- 
tinued. "  Then  we  will  proceed  to  the  gymnasium — un- 
der 2^rotest,  I  demur  to  the  whole  proceeding.  Our  new 
associate  is  too  compliant.  The  Museum  is  extravagant 
and  unreasonable.  It  will  bear  watching — Gentlemen  of 
the  Serapeum!  "  he  exclaimed,  after  a  moment's  pause, 
"  I  move  you  that  we  invite  the  venerable  Seti  to  accom- 


THE   ARENA.  245 

pany  us  to  the  gymnasium.     It  will  conduce  to  order  and 
fairness." 

The  suggestion  was  heartily  ratified. 

The  gymnasium  was  near.  The  fair  occupants  of  the 
latticed  gallery  already  mentioned,  and  of  whose  presence 
some  faint  signs  had  appeared  during  the  lecture,  had 
only  to  remove  to  the  opposite  side  of  the  same  large 
room  to  command  as  good  a  view  and  almost  as  good  a 
heai'ing  of  what  might  pass  in  the  gymnasium  as  they 
had  been  having  of  the  lecture  room.  Did  they  remove? 
Who  knows?  AVas  the  Gem  of  Alexandria,  with  her 
lofty  brow  and  shining  eyes,  among  them?  Who  knows? 
Certainly  not  Aleph  the  Chaldean. 

The  large  court  of  the  temple  had  been  fitted  up  for 
athletic  exercises.  We  need  only  say  in  regard  to  it  that 
it  was  large  enough  to  inclose  a  small  hippodrome  at  the 
centre  ;  that  on  the  right  and  left  of  a  broad  passage  lead- 
ing down  to  this  from  the  main  entrance  were  tiers  of 
movable  seats  rising  one  above  another.  Those  on  the 
left  were  already  occupied  by  the  Museum  in  full  force 
when  the  Serapeum  came  crowding  in  and  took  the  seats 
on  the  right.  Then  appeared  Seti  and  took  the  seat  of 
honor  in  the  middle  of  the  passage.  Last  of  all  came  P. 
Cornelius  and  our  two  friends.  These  walked  down  at 
once  to  the  edge  of  the  hippodrome,  when  Cimon  took  a 
seat  on  the  right,  and  Aleph  and  Cornelius  remained 
standing — 

Before  a  man,  who,  a  long  whip  in  hand,  was  holding 
at  full  length  the  rein  of  a  superb  looking  horse  with  a 
riding  cloth  strapped  upon  him. 

"What  do  you  wish?"  said  Aleph  to  the  trainer  in 
equestrianism. 


246  THE   ARENA. 


(( 


Handle  this  Arabian  in  all  ways — mount,  trot 
around  the  course,  canter  and  gallop,  maintain  your  seat 
under  shouts  and  the  hissing  of  this  whip." 

Has  this  horse  any  peculiarities?''  asked  Cornelius. 
This  the  stranger  is  to  find  out  for  himself,"  said 
the  trainer  gruffly. 

*'The  animal  has  the  eye  of  a  demon,"  continued 
Cornelius;  "  and  it  is  agreed  between  the  Museum  and  us 
that  you,  Beco,  are  not  to  ask  my  friend  to  do  what  you 
are  not  willing  to  undertake  yourself.  So  I  now  ask  you 
to  mount — in  short,  do  yourself  what  you  ask  from  him." 

^'  I  am  here  to  examine,  not  to  be  examined,"  and 
the  man  shrugged  his  shoulders  and  tried,  unsuccess- 
fully, to  look  amused. 

Do  you  refuse?"  demanded  Cornelius. 
I  refuse  to  be  tested  myself ;  I  am  not  a  candidate 
for  matriculation,"  was  the  surly  reply. 

Cornelius  looked  anxiously  around,  and  seeing  the 
trainer  of  the  Serapeum  standing  not  far  away,  he  beck- 
oned to  him ;  and  on  his  approach  conferred  with  him  in 
a  low  voice  for  a  moment. 

"It  is  as  I  thought,"  he  then  cried  out  so  that  all 
could  hear;  "our  own  equestrian  trainer  judges  this  ani- 
mal to  be  vicious  and  dangerous — evidently  so  dangerous 
that  he  would  not  himself  venture  to  attempt  mounting 
him.  I  appeal  to  the  University  against  such  unfair- 
ness !  " 

No  notice  was  taken  of  this  appeal ;  for  by  this  time 
both  Serapeum  and  Museum  were  watching  with  breath- 
less interest  the  proceedings  of  Alojih. 

After  his  first  words  to  the  trainer  he  seemed  to  take 
no  notice  of  what  others  were  doing.     His  whole  atten- 


THE   ARENA.  247 

tion  was  absorbed  by  tlie  formidable  animal  before  him. 
Soon  he  stepped  forward  to  the  side  of  Beco,  and  stood 
there  for  a  few  moments  looking  steadily  into  the  flam- 
ing eyes  of  the  horse.  Then  he  silently  took  the  rein 
into  his  hand  and  motioned  Beco  with  his  whip  into  the 
background.  There  they  stood  alone  for  a  while,  con- 
fronting each  other — the  soul  of  the  man  looking  out  of 
his  eyes,  and  the  soul  of  the  brute  looking  out  of  his — the 
one  calm,  confident,  masterful ;  the  other  brimful  of  will- 
fulness, resistance,  determination,  passion,  and  malig- 
nity. Each  of  them  seemed  to  be  asking  the  other. 
Which  of  us  shall  be  master  ? 

Aieph  began  to  draw  gently  on  the  rein.  The  horse 
showed  his  teeth,  champed  his  bit,  struck  the  ground 
fiercely  with  his  forefoot,  seemed  on  the  point  of  spring- 
ing on  his  enemy.  But  Aleph  gave  not  the  slightest  sign 
of  apprehension.  Not  the  smallest  movement  that  looked 
toward  self -protection  was  apparent.  On  the  contrary,  he 
advanced  a  step,  and,  if  possible,  his  attitude  grew  firmer, 
his  port  more  commanding,  and  his  eyes  shot  out  their 
rays  into  the  brute  eyes  with  a  still  more  confident  maj- 
esty. He  saw  the  fierce  eyes  before  him  beginning  to 
soften,  to  waver.  He  advanced  another  step.  He  laid 
his  hand  softly  on  the  thin,  quivering  nostrils.  He 
began  to  speak — meanwhile  caressing  Avith  a  gentle 
hand  the  soft  nostril,  the  long  forelock,  the  tapering 
ears. 

"  You  are  one  of  ten  thousand — finely  formed,  power- 
fully built,  full  of  grace  and  strength  and  spirit.  A 
steed  for  a  warrior !  But  you  are  not  an  Arabian.  Par- 
thia  was  your  mother.  And  you  are  as  wild  as  the  wild- 
est of  the  Parthians.     I  do  not  think  that  you  have  ever 


248  THE   ARENA. 

felt  the  weight  of  a  man.  You  have  been  bitted,  but 
never  ridden.  You  have  been  mismanaged  and  abused 
till  you  think  every  man  an  enemy.  It  is  a  mistake. 
You  have  at  last  found  a  friend.  Now  we  understand 
each  other — do  we  not?" 

The  noble  head  had  begun  to  droop  toward  the  sooth- 
ing tones  when  Aleph,  putting  both  arms  with  the  rein 
over  it,  drew  it  gently  still  lower,  patted  it,  patted  the 
heavy  mane,  patted  the  proud  arch  of  the  neck,  patted 
the  shapely  flank,  patted  the  royal  curve  of  the  back, 
patted  that  royal  curve  with  both  hands — a  moment  more 
was  seated  upon  it,  rein  in  hand. 

What  a  bound  there  was  then !  The  demon  tliat  had 
been  cast  out  came  back  seven-folded.  But  the  horse 
seemed  to  think  that  he  had  a  demon  on  his  back  instead 
of  within  him.  He  sprang  into  the  air  with  such  sud- 
denness and  violence  that  one  would  have  thought  him 
thunderstruck  into  a  resolution  to  forsake  the  earth  at 
once  and  forever  in  favor  of  a  higher  sphere.  Then  fol- 
lowed a  rapid  succession  of  pyrotechnic  struggles,  in 
which  was  tried  every  sort  of  device  and  movement,  save 
that  of  falling,  known  to  a  horse,  to  free  himself  from 
his  burden.  Such  mighty  wrath ;  such  desperate  and 
frenzied  exertions;  such  shakings  and  strikings  and  kiek- 
ings  and  rearings  and  plungings,  and  at  last  such  runnings 
away,  had  not  been  seen  since  the  days  of  Bucepha- 
lus. But  during  it  all  Aleph  sat  as  if  a  part  of  the  ani- 
mal, with  no  strain  whatever  on  the  rein,  merely  watch- 
fully accommodating  himself  to  the  various  movements 
of  which  he  seemed  to  have  some  secret  intelligence  in 
advance:  and  when  the  running  began  he  only  used  the 
rein  to  guide  it  according  to  the  round  of  the  arena. 


THE   ARENA.  249 

This  was  no  easy  matter — the  speed  was  so  great  and  the 
round  so  small.  AVhether  he  would  be  able  to  prevent 
the  headlong  courser  from  dashing  through  the  seats  oc- 
cupied by  the  Museum  was  so  doubtful  to  those  in  the 
front  seats  that  they  instinctively  made  a  great  outcry 
and  flourish  of  canes  at  the  flying  centaur.  This  added, 
if  possible^,  new  wings  to  the  flight :  but  Aleph  so  skill- 
fully combined  the  use  of  the  rein  with  limb-pressure 
and  flexions  that  the  round  was  safely  made  three  times. 
The  quadruped  hurricane  then  stopped  of  his  own  accord 
at  the  starting  point — all  in  a  tremble  and  covered  with 
foam. 

Aleph  sprang  from  his  back,  caught  up  a  large  cloth 
that  lay  near,  gently  wiped  off  the  sweat  from  the  trem- 
bling animal,  patted  and  stroked  and  soothed  him  with 
hand  and  voice  till  he  ceased  to  tremble. 

Then  taking  his  stand  a  little  in  front,  he  beckoned 
and  called.  The  horse  instantly  walked  up  to  him.  He 
laid  his  hand  on  the  mane,  both  hands ;  they  grew  heavier 
and  heavier,  and  still  the  animal  stood  motionless.  A 
moment  more  and  Aleph  was  again  mounted  and  pacing 
slowly  around  the  course.  Arrived  at  the  starting  point, 
he  again  dismounted,  tightened  the  band  that  confined 
the  riding  cloth,  and  then  in  a  very  leisurely  way  re- 
sumed his  seat. 

**]Srow,  friend  Parthia,  shall  we  trot?"  A  gentle 
shake  of  the  rein  and  Parthia  trotted  around  the  course 
with  a  free  and  stately  action. 

' '  Now,  friend  Parthia,  shall  we  see  what  you  can  do 
in  the  way  of  the  ornamental?  ''  By  this  time  the  steed 
had  recovered  his  strength  and  spirit ;  and  in  perfect 
obedience  to  rein  and  foot  he  curveted  and  pranced  and 


250  THE   ARENA. 

caracoled  about  the  arena  after  a  most  wonderful  fashion. 
But  the  greatest  wonder  was  not  the  horse,  but  the  horse- 
man. Such  unaffected  simplicity,  ease,  and  repose  of 
manner !  With  what  grace  and  even  majesty  he  carried 
himself!  As  he  went  his  last  round  with  the  sunshine 
on  his  royal  face  and  the  steed  stepping  as  proudly  under 
him  as  if  he  knew  that  he  carried  a  royal  burden — ah, 
such  a  shout  went  up  from  Serapeum  and  Museum  both ! 
Aleph  happened  to  look  up  and  lo,  on  one  side  of  the 
arena,  high  up  in  the  Serapeum,  latticed  windows  were 
all  open  and  bright  faces  and  forms  were  leaning  out 
waving  snowy  veils.  The  ladies  of  Alexandria,  relying 
on  the  absorption  of  the  students,  and  perhaps  forgetting 
themselves  in  the  intense  interest  of  the  scene,  had  grad- 
ually pushed  the  lattice  aside  for  the  sake  of  a  better 
view :  and  when  Aleph  looked  up  and  saw  them  he  saw 
also  a  bouquet  of  flowers  in  the  air,  and  a  fair  hand  that 
had  just  parted  with  it,  and  a  glorious  face  that  he  knew 
behind  the  hand.  The  horse  sprang  to  meet  the  descend- 
ing token;  and  as  Aleph  caught  it  in  his  hand,  he,  as 
gallant  knights  should  always  do,  bowed  low,  even  to  the 
horse's  mane. 

"Who  owns  this  animal,  thou  villain?"  exclaimed 
Cornelius,  with  some  fire  in  his  voice  and  more  in  his 
eyes,  to  the  trainer. 

The  man  tapped  the  ground  uneasily  with  his  whip, 
and  was  silent. 

Turning  to  the  students,  Cornelius  cried,  "  Whoever 
was  the  owner  of  this  horse  when  he  came  here  has  for- 
feited his  claim.  Let  us  declare  it  forfeited  to  the  Uni- 
versity, and  present  the  aiiimal  to  Aleph,  the  Chaldean, 
to  be  kept  at  our  expense ;  and  if  the  original  owner  dares 


THE   ARENA.  251 

to  claim  him  let  iis  prosecute  the  wretch  before  the  courts 
for  intent  to  kill  one  of  us." 

Said  Metellus,  *'  I  approve  of  that.  It  seems  to  me 
that  it  would  be  a  crime  against  society  to  reward  the 
man  for  his  crime  by  replacing  a  horse  worth  considerably 
less  than  nothing  by  one  worth  a  thousand  gold  staters. 
May  I  ask  what  the  venerable  Seti  thinks?" 

The  venerable  Seti  thought  that  under  the  circum- 
stances the  horse  had  a  right  to  choose  his  own  master — 
that  in  fact  he  had  already  chosen,  and  chosen  well.  He 
should  have  free  keeping  in  the  stalls  of  the  Serapeum  as 
long  as  his  master  should  choose. 

The  students  ratified  lustily. 

In  the  meantime  Aleph  had  dismounted  and  stood 
holding  the  rein  over  one  arm,  while  the  other  was  thrown 
caressingly  over  the  arched  neck  of  the  horse.  As  he 
gave  the  rein  to  a  servant  of  the  Serapeum  who  now  pre- 
sented himself  he  said : 

"I  am  glad  if  the  Museum  regards  the  trial  thus  far 
08  satisfactory.  But  there  remains  another  trial  to  which 
they  have  asked  me  to  submit — that  by  their  teacher  of 
fence.  For  this  I  am  now  ready" — and  the  flowers  which 
till  now  he  had  held  in  his  hand  he  secured  under  his 
girdle. 

Then  up  spake  Cornelius  again.  "  I  cannot  but 
think  that  the  Museum  is  thoroughly  satisfied  already 
with  the  justice  of  our  matriculation.  And  to  ask  a 
young  man  after  such  exertions  as  we  have  seen  to  pit 
himself  against  a  fresh  man  and  a  famous  professional 
seeme  to  me  wonderfully  unreasonable.  Besides,  what 
has  occurred  suggests  the  idea  of  bad  faith  somewhere. 
^Of  course  the  Museum  does  not  mean  anything  of  the 


252  THE   ARENA. 

sort ;  hut  in  my  opinion  they  are  being  made  tools  of  by 
somebody  who  has  a  deadly  purpose  to  serve.  Unless 
Draco  of  Rhodes  is  a  better  and  fairer  man  than  Beco  the 
Roman,  he  can  be  hired  to  commit  a  murder.'^ 

"It  must  be  confessed/'  said  Q.  Metellus,  who  had 
come  forward  and  was  now  standing  by  the  side  of  Cor- 
nelius, "that  the  Museum  has  made  but  a  sorry  show 
here  to-day,  either  as  a  tool  or  worse;  and  I  should  not 
much  blame  P.  Cornelius  if  he  had  taken  a  worse  view  of 
us  than  he  does.  We  have  had  a  most  instructive  time, 
but  no  thanks  to  the  Museum  for  it.  We  were  trapi^ed 
into  it.  For  my  part  I  disclaim  all  fellowship  with  Beco 
and  his  proceedings ;  and  if  I  could  think  it  possible  that 
another  such  scoundrel  could  be  found  attached  to  the 
Museum  I  should  be  tempted  to  forsake  it  for  cleaner 
quarters.  If  I  should  wish  the  examination  to  proceed 
further  it  would  be  solely  for  the  purpose  of  vindicating 
our  good  name  and  showing  that  Beco  is  the  only  devil 
among  us." 

On  this  arose  another  young  man  among  the  benches 
of  the  Museum  who  commended  in  a  general  sort  of  way 
the  remarks  of  Metellus ;  but  then  said  that  the  Museum 
had  formally  taken  the  ground  that  it  was  not  proper  to 
take  any  accomplishment  for  granted,  saving  as  the 
higher  includes  the  lower.  It  would  not  only  be  incon- 
sistent but  an  unfortunate  precedent  should  they  leave 
the  testing  incomplete.  To  be  sure,  the  young  man  who 
calls  himself  Aleph  the  Chaldean  has  borne  himself  well 
thus  far ;  still  he  might  wholly  fail  under  the  remaining 
test.  Certainly  the  Museum,  however  well  satisfied  at 
present,  would  be  better  satisfied  if  the  whole  plan 
agreed  upon  should  be  carried  out.     He  did  not  antici- 


THE   ARENA.  253 

pate  another  Beco  in  Draco.  No  doubt  Draco  would  be 
forbearing  with  the  young  man,  and  would  only  tax  him 
enough  to  make  a  reasonable  trial  of  his  skill  in  the  gen- 
tlemanly art  of  fence.  For  this  purpose  no  dangerous 
weapons  need  be  used — only  the  open  hands.  As  the 
candidate  did  not  seem  to  be  at  all  worn  by  what  he  had 
done,  let  him  have  a  chance  to  win  new  laurels  from 
Draco  of  Ehodes. 

Some  of  the  Museum  applauded. 

"  But  Euphemes  of  Corinth  should  consider/'  began 
P.  Cornelius;  but  Aleph  laid  his  hand  on  his  arm  and 
said,  '^Excuse  me,  my  friend." 

Then  turning  toward  the  Museum,  he  added  in  a  voice 
that  had  in  it  a  touch  of  humor  as  well  as  several  touches 
of  decision,  "  I  beg  that  the  Museum  may  be  gratified  by 
the  complete  carrying  out  of  the  plan  they  have  pro- 
posed. I  do  not  ask  for  exceptions  in  my  favor,  either 
from  my  fellow  students  or  from  your  teacher  of  fence. 
Let  him  do  his  best — provided  he  deal  fairly  and  honor- 
ably." 

This  settled  the  matter,  though  Cornelius  and  some 
others,  especially  of  the  Serapeum,  looked  and  muttered 
discontent.  "It  is  too  bad.  Talk  of  fairness  and  honor 
in  connection  with  such  a  desperado  as  Draco!  Depend 
upon  it  there  is  some  wickedness  in  the  wind.  When 
such  a  fellow  comes  to  the  front  the  gods  retire." 

And  he  tvas  a  formidable  figure  to  look  at,  as  he  pre- 
sented himself  in  the  arena.  A  man  of  unusual  stature 
and  weight,  with  prodigious  muscular  development  about 
the  arms  and  chest,  but  without  obesity  and  with  every 
appearance  of  activity  as  well  as  of  strength.  His  face 
was  the  worst  part  of  him — shaggy,  coarse,  hard,  cruel, 


354  THE   ARENA. 

with  protuberant  blood-shot  eyes  out  of  which  looked  all 
the  passions  save  fear  and  pity — the  whole  made  more  re- 
pulsive by  a  large  swelling  on  one  cheek  which  Aleph 
well  understood. 

To  this  forbidding  figure  Aleph  walked  down  (fol- 
lowed at  a  little  distance  by  Cornelius  and  Metellus)  and 
stood  before  him  with  folded  arms  and  investigating  eyes. 

Draco  proceeded  to  pass  his  hands  across  the  shoul- 
ders and  chest  of  the  young  man ;  felt  of  his  arms ;  took 
their  length;  inspected  his  hands;  stood  off  a  little  dis- 
tance to  observe  the  limbs  and  general  build. 

''Very  well  to  begin  upon.  I  think  I  could  make 
something  of  you.  Not  quite  enough  like  Mars,  how- 
ever." Then,  taking  the  attitude  of  a  boxer,  he  said, 
*'  Now  deliver  some  blows  at  me  with  your  open  hand." 

Aleph  made  certain  strokes  which  were  more  remark- 
able for  the  freedom  and  grace  with  which  they  were  de- 
livered than  for  anything  else,  and  which  Draco  found 
no  difficulty  in  parrying.  None  of  them  were  aimed  at 
the  face ;  but  once  the  low  stroke  was  so  struck  up  by 
Draco  in  the  parrying  that  the  hand  touched  the  swollen 
cheek.     Draco's  eyes  flashed. 

In  this  preliminary  bout  it  became  evident  to  Aleph, 
from  the  force  and  direction  of  the  parrying,  that  Draco 
was  aiming  to  disable  as  well  as  to  parry.  His  wards 
were  strokes — his  defense  an  attack. 

"Now  take  your  turn  at  parry,"  said  Draco  with  a 
subtle  menace  lurking  in  both  eye  and  voice. 

Aleph  saw  that  the  time  had  come  when  he  would 
need  all  his  watchfulness.  He  erected  himself  to  a  fuller 
stature.  His  feet  and  limbs  set  themselves  into  new 
firmness.     His  eye  took  on  new  openness  and  intensity 


THE   ARENA.  255 

without  losing  anything  of  its  characteristic  repose.  He 
had  hardly  made  this  instinctive  preparation  before  the 
blows  began  to  come — at  first  with  some  show  of  tenta- 
tiveness  and  moderation,  but,  as  they  were  warded  off, 
they  returned  with  ever  increasing  heat  and  force,  and 
gradually  came  to  be  aimed  exclusively  at  the  head. 
Now  it  was  the  mouth,  now  the  eye,  now  the  temple. 
He  seemed  bent  on  at  least  marring  the  manly  beauty  be- 
fore him,  and  which  contrasted  so  strangely  with  his  own 
coarse  and  brutal  features.  Gradually  the  open  palm  be- 
came the  knotted  fist.  Gradually  the  knotted  fist  came 
as  fast  and  fiercely  as  the  whole  passionate  force  of  the 
man  could  wield  it. 

Through  the  whole  of  this  impetuous  hail  storm, 
Aleph  kept  strictly  on  the  defensive.  His  whole  w^ork 
was  parrying.  Was  not  this  in  the  bond?  Of  course  his 
hands  were  full  of  occupation — his  feet  also  when  Draco 
began  to  shift  positions  and  at  length  attacked  him  on 
whatever  side  and  from  whatever  direction  he  could. 
Aleph  hardly  had  time  to  wonder  at  the  headlong  ferocity 
of  the  storm  that  was  discharging  itself  upon  him. 

^^Stopf  cried  Cornelius.  ''This  is  fighting,  not 
examining.     Sto])  /  I  say — this  is  intolerable." 

But  Draco  paid  no  attention.  The  glare  of  a  tiger 
was  in  his  eyes.     His  face  was  that  of  a  fiend. 

''Shall  1  quit  the  defensive?"  inquired  Aleph  in  a 
low  voice  to  Cornelius  and  Metellus — as  he  gained  a  mo- 
ment's respite  by  a  spring  to  one  side. 

"  Do  so !  "  they  both  exclaimed.  "  He  means  to  kill 
you.'' 

Then  was  a  sight  worth  seeing.  Then  the  youth 
fairly  awoke.     Then  his  whole  frame  began  to  work  with 


256  THE   ARENA. 

the  yiipreme  grace  and  force  of  some  mighty  machine.  It 
was  Apollo  turned  to  Mars,  or  rather  to  Jupiter  Tonans 
himself — so  wonderfully  sovereign  and  commanding  be- 
came his  aspect.  And  perhaps  the  most  impressive  thing 
about  it  was  the  mysterious  repose  and  utter  self-posses- 
sion that  sat  on  thrones  in  every  feature. 

Compared  with  his  movements  now,  all  his  former 
ones  were  mere  pastime.  It  was  sublime  to  see  such  a 
face,  such  a  figure,  such  a  blending  of  all  the  poetries  of 
expression  and  motion.  He  still  parried,  but  every  parry 
was  followed  by  a  blow  delivered.  Swifter  and  stronger 
flew  that  young  hand.  He,  too,  could  be  swift  and 
mighty — he,  too,  could  press,  now  on  this  side  and  now 
on  that,  and  again,  seemingly,  on  all  sides  at  once.  And 
yet  his  breathing  was  unhurried — there  seemed  in  him 
endless  reserves  of  strength  and  battle. 

''Immortal  gods!  how  he  handles  himself,^'  ex- 
claimed young  men  as  they  stood  on  their  benches  and 
watched  breathlessly. 

Almost  as  soon  as  the  defensive  became  the  aggress- 
ive, a  severe  stroke  on  his  swollen  cheek  warned  Draco 
that  he  must  begin  to  look  to  self-preservation.  He 
could  no  longer  give  his  whole  attention  to  assault.  He 
became  vividly  sensible  of  the  great  change  that  had 
taken  place  in  the  aspect  and  bearing  of  his  antagonist. 
He  saw  how  cool  and  collected  he  was — how  perfectly 
master  of  himself.  The  sight  angered  him,  made  him 
furious.  He  would  have  given  his  life  for  one  fair  de- 
molishing stroke  on  the  young  man  on  whom  as  yet  he 
had  not  been  able  to  fasten  a  single  bruise.  But  scant 
time  had  he  now  for  even  such  flashes  of  thinking.  He 
had  all  he  could  do  to  ward  off  the  blows  that  came  so 


THE   ARENA.  257 

mightily  and  swiftly,  and  yet  with  a  certain  deliberate 
terribleness  and  ease  that  seemed  to  say  that  such  could 
be  delivered  forever.  Soon  another  blow  passed  his  ward 
and  reached  the  cheek  hitherto  untouched.  But  it  was 
with  the  palm  of  the  hand.  Was  Aleph  affecting  to  be 
forbearing  and  merciful  to  him  who  had  never  given 
mercy  nor  needed  it?  Was  he,  like  some  perverse  boy, 
being  cuffed  into  good  behavior?  The  thought  was  in- 
tolerable. That  a  youngster  of  a  score  of  summers 
should  be  sparing  him— conquering  him  with  even  some- 
thing less  than  his  utmost,  was  agony.  And  yet  that  was 
what  everybody  could  now  see  was  bound  to  happen.  It 
was  plain  to  see  that  Draco  was  waning  and  that  Aleph 
was  waxing.  The  sweat  was  dropping  freely  from  the 
face  of  the  one ;  the  brow  of  the  other  was  not  percepti- 
bly moist.  Spectators  could  see  that  the  young  man 
often  voluntarily  neglected  advantages  that  the  passion 
and  precipitation  of  his  adversary  gave  him,  and  was 
seeking  to  close  the  contest  with  as  little  damage  and 
mortification  to  him  as  possible.  After  one  of  these  plain 
forbearances  he  said  to  Draco  in  a  low  voice : 

''Need  this  go  on?  Say  that  you  are  satisfied  with 
the  examination  and  we  will  stop  just  here.  You  have 
for  some  time  been  in  my  power." 

For  answer  the  infuriated  man  leaped  at  him  with  the 
expression  of  a  fiend,  and  tried  to  throw  his  arms  about 
him  and  bear  him  to  the  ground.  So  sudden  and  violent 
was  the  movement  that  Aleph  eluded  it  with  some  diffi- 
culty; but  he  did  it,  and,  in  passing,  dealt  the  ill-bal- 
anced man  a  blow  that  felled  him  to  the  ground.  He  lay 
motionless. 

"He  is  not  injured— only  stunned,"  said  Aleph  to 


258  THE   ARENA. 

Cornelius  and  Metellus  as  they  came  up.  They  looked  at 
the  speaker  and  wondered.  Not  a  blow  a])peared  to  have 
reached  him.  There  was  no  visible  disarrangement  of  his 
dress  even.  The  flowers  at  his  girdle  were  still  in  place. 
And  the  supremely  cool  and  masterful  look  that  had  pre- 
sided through  the  whole  contest  was  still  sitting  in  full 
glory  on  its  throne. 

The  issue  had  been  anticipated  by  the  students  for 
some  time ;  but  their  breathless  interest  in  watching  the 
conflict  had  kept  them  from  any  general  vocal  expression. 
But  now  there  was  such  an  uproar — such  a  waving  of 
canes  and  caps,  such  stamping  and  clapping  and  lung- 
rending  huzzaing  as  a  thousand  frenzied  young  men  could 
make,  and  such  as  the  old  Serapeum  had  not  known  for 
many  a  day,  if  ever.  Did  Seti  make  any  effort  to  sup- 
press or  moderate?  Not  he.  Some  even  go  so  far  as  to 
say  that  he  was  seen  unconsciously  keeping  time  to  the 
uproar  with  his  foot.  Others  say  (and  I  am  disposed  to 
think  they  are  right)  that  he  sat  as  motionless  as  the 
statue  of  Memnon,  sat  as  if  in  a  dream,  till  the  tumult 
had  somewhat  subsided.  Then  he  held  up  his  hand.  Si- 
lence at  once  reigned. 

"Young  men  of  the  Museum!  I  cannot  think  that 
any  considerable  number  of  you  have  been  knowingly  con- 
cerned in  this  conspiracy.  Were  it  otherwise  it  would  be 
to  the  eternal  disgrace  of  the  "University,  and  especially 
of  your  part  of  it.  I  prefer  to  think,  and  do  think,  that 
you  have  been  victims.  You  could  not  have  supposed 
that  it  was  intended  to  assail  the  very  life  of  a  young  man 
under  pretense  of  testing  his  athletic  accomplishments. 
You  have  been  misled  and  deceived  by  somebody.  I  leave 
you  to  find  out  who  inspired  and  contrived  this  whole 


THE   ARENA.  259 

thing.  It  is  necessary  for  your  good  name.  And  I  shall 
not  wonder  if  you  decline  henceforth  to  have  anything  to 
do  with  these  two  professional  trainers  who  have  allowed 
themselves  to  be  used  for  murderous  purposes. 

"  Perhaps  some,  if  not  all,  of  you  have  thought  it 
strange  that  I  did  not  interfere  to  break  off  this  contest 
when  its  true  character  became  plain.  I  was  on  the  point 
of  doing  so  several  times :  but  as  I  looked  at  the  young 
man  I  seemed  to  see  in  his  whole  bearing  such  abundant 
promise  of  a  successful  issue  that  I  felt  it  would  be  a 
wrong  to  all  of  you  young  men  to  keep  from  you  an  in- 
spiring example,  and  a  wrong  to  him  to  keep  him  from 
the  honor  to  which  he  is  so  justly  entitled." 

'*  The  venerable  Seti  is  right,"  cried  Metellus.  "  We 
of  the  Museum  are  no  better  than  we  should  be; 
but  we  are  not  sunk  so  low  as  to  take  part  in  a  plot 
against  the  life  or  limb  of  a  stranger  who  has  done  us  no 
harm — much  less  against  a  member  of  our  own  Univer- 
sity. We  have  been  imposed  upon.  We  supposed  that 
nothing  but  a  reasonable  and  safe  testing  was  intended : 
we  even  supposed  that  less  danger  would  attend  it  under 
our  trainers  than  would  naturally  belong  to  an  emulative 
contest  between  students. 

"  It  would  be  a  farce  for  me,"  he  continued,  "  to  ask 
the  Museum  to  vote  as  to  whether  the  examination  of  the 
candidate  has  been  satisfactory.  There  is  not  one  of  us 
but  would  throw  his  cap  to  the  moon  in  token  of  ap- 
proval. Of  course  we  adopt  the  hero  into  the  Museum 
by  a  thunder  of  silent  acclamation.  We  have  seen  some- 
thing to-day  to  tell  to  the  old  folks  at  home — something 
to  tell  to  our  children,"  he  added  smiling.  And  then 
with  a  graver  face  and  a  graver  tone  he  went  on,  *'And 


2G0  THE   ARENA. 

somehow  I  feel  as  if  I  should  go  away  from  this  place  a 
truer  and  worthier  man  for  what  we  have  seen  to-day.  I 
had  heard  of  magnanimity  before ;  to-day  I  have  seen  it. 
And  I  like  it.  Heroism  is  good,  but  heroism  with  right- 
eousness is  better.  I  see  that  it  is  possible  to  come  down 
on  a  great  deed,  which  is  even  better  than  rising  to 
meet  it. 

"  But  though  the  Museum  does  not  need  to  vote  ap- 
proval of  Aleph  the  Chaldean  (what  a  ridiculous  thing  it 
would  be!),  I  think  we  owe  it  to  ourselves  to  act  on  the 
suggestion  of  the  venerable  Seti ;  to  express  formally  our 
condemnation  of  these  villains  (the  one  lying  here  where 
he  ought  to  lie,  and  the  other  standing  yonder  dangling 
a  whip  which  ought  to  make  many  a  weal  across  his  own 
back)  and  their  prompters,  whoever  they  may  be.  Have 
we  any  further  •  need  of  the  services  of  trainers  who  are 
themselves  trained  by  the  infernals?  I  think  not. 
Those  agreeing  with  me  will  stretch  out  their  hands." 

As  far  as  Metellus  could  see,  every  right  hand  was 
lifted. 

What  congratulations  were  showered  on  Aleph,  how 
cordial  and  admiring  both  Serapeum  and  Museum  seemed, 
how  profuse  the  latter  were  in  their  disclaimers  and 
apologies  and  promises  to  unearth  the  whole  plot,  and 
how  modestly  Aleph  carried  himself  under  it  all,  I  will 
not  attempt  to  set  down  in  detail. 

"  Come  with  me,"  said  Seti  to  oar  friends,  as  the  stu- 
dents broke  up,  "and  I  will  show  you  your  new  quar- 
ters." On  the  way  they  told  him  of  their  arrangement 
to  meet  Mains  at  the  khan  in  the  evening,  but  promised 
to  return  immediately  after  to  the  Serapeum.  At  the 
door  of  their  apartments  a  servant  met  them  and  said  to 


THE   ARENA.  261 

the  priest  that  his  granddaughter  was  in  her  sedan  at  the 
gate  and  wished  to  see  him.  Would  he  come  at  once? 
She  was  looking  very  pale  and  ill.  Seti  at  once  threw 
open  the  door,  bade  them  enter  and  be  at  home,  and  has- 
tened after  the  servant. 

He  did  not  appear  again  that  day.  Very  likely  he 
went  home  with  Rachel.  And  very  likely  Aleph  would 
have  followed  in  the  course  of  the  afternoon,  had  not  Ci- 
mon  happened  to  mention  that  he  overheard  a  student 
saying  that  news  had  just  come  that  the  emperor  had 
asked  the  daughter  of  the  Alabarch  in  marriage  for  his 
nephew  and  heir  Germanicus,  and  that  the  visit  of  the 
Alabarch  to  Rome  had  reference  to  this  overture.  *'  Per- 
haps," added  Cimon,  "this  is  what  has  disturbed  her." 

"  She  would  never  marry  a  pagan,"  said  Aleph  decid- 
edly. 

"  Perhaps  Germanicus  is  such  a  pagan  as  her  grand- 
father," returned  Cimon.  "He  is  said  to  be  a  very 
promising  young  man,  and  the  son  of  excellent  parents ; 
and  no  doubt  the  Jewish  elders  will  be  greatly  in  favor  of 
an  alliance  that  promises  to  secure  and  advance  their  in- 
terests so  greatly.     They  will  remember  Queen  Esther." 

Aleph  made  no  answer — unless  the  silent  one  of  draw- 
ing out  the  knot  of  flowers  from  his  girdle  and  setting 
them  carefully  with  water  in  a  vase  which  he  had  discov- 
ered in  the  room.  But  luas  this  an  answer?  If  so,  it 
certainly  was  not  a  very  clear  one.  Did  it  say  No  to  Ci- 
mon? Did  it  say  that  his  suggestions  were  not  as  weighty 
as  they  might  be?  Did  it  merely  say  that  the  rare  and 
lovely  flowers  were  worth  preserving  for  a  day  or  two  on 
their  own  account — whether  they  came  from  a  future  em- 
press of  Rome  or  not?     Or  did  the  heart  of  the  young 


262  THE   ARENA. 

man  really  speak  in  the  act  without  consulting  his  judg- 
ment— as  hearts  sometimes  do?  I  am  at  a  loss.  Such 
Delphic  conduct  is  very  embarrassing.  Why  will  people 
put  interpreters  to  so  much  trouble?  If  I  had  been  Aleph 
I  would  have — but  no  matter  what  I  would  have  done. 
What  does  the  public  care? 


XI. 

THE    TREMBLING. 

KpeiGGov  (5f  voaeiv  j]  depaneveiv. 

— Euripides,  Hipp.  177. 
Better  to  be  sick  than  to  act  the  part  of  a  nurse. 


1.  How  coialdL  yoxx  ! 

2.  Ivazartis,  come  fortln ! 

3.  Empress  of  the  W^est? 

4.  Sympattietic  advice. 


XI. 

THE    TREMBLING. 

SETI  found  Rachel  sitting  in  her  sedan  and  looking 
more  like  collapsed  alabaster  than  a  human  being — 
her  eyes  closed^,  every  trace  of  color  gone  from  her  cheek, 
and  yet  with  an  expression  that  told  of  a  desperate  strug- 
gle for  self-mastery. 

She  opened  her  eyes  as  she  felt  Seti's  hand  on  her  arm. 

'*^  0  grandfather,  how  coitlcl  you  allow  that  dreadful 
combat  to  go  on  !  ^^ 

"  What,  have  you  then  been  a  witness  of  it  all  ?  I 
had  forgotten  that  it  was  possible.  My  poor  child — it 
was  indeed  too  much  for  any  lady,  save  a  Roman  accus- 
tomed to  a  Roman  arena  !  " 

"  I  had  no  idea  of  what  was  coming  when  I  went  over 
to  the  other  side  of  the  gallery  with  the  rest.  And  they 
pressed  me  to  the  best  window  for  seeing  and  hearing  : 
once  there  I  was  under  a  spell.  I  could  not  tear  myself 
away.  I  felt  obliged  to  see  and  hear  though  I  died  in  the 
act.  Every  sense  was  acute  beyond  anything  I  can  re- 
member. Oh  how  I  suffered  at  the  earlier  stages  of  that 
last  conflict !  It  seemed  as  if  I  could  neither  stay  nor  get 
away.  It  was  awful.  I  was  amazed  that  my  companions 
did  not  seem  to  mind  the  scene  as  I  did.  Why  did  you 
not  interfere  ?  " 


2G6  THE   TREMBLING. 

"  I  liardly  understand  why,  myself.  But  probably  it 
was  the  confidence  which  the  whole  bearing  of  the  young 
man,  and  his  superb  physique,  in  which  he  surpasses  all  I 
have  ever  known — probably  it  was  the  confidence  that 
these  inspired  that  he  would  be  more  than  equal  to  the 
occasion.  Still,  now  that  it  is  all  over,  I  wonder  at  my- 
self somewhat." 

^'  But  suppose  that  brute  of  a  horse,  or  that  greater 
brute  of  a  man,  had  killed  him  ?  I  shudder  to  think  of 
it.  I  had  no  idea  that  anything  could  have  shaken  me 
so.^^     She  closed  her  eyes  and  involuntarily  trembled. 

"But,"  she  added  in  a  moment,  " this  is  not  all.  I 
received  this  morning  from  my  mother  a  letter  which 
moved  me  greatly  and  perhaps  unfitted  me  to  bear  the 
scene  in  the  palaestra  as  well  as  did  the  other  young  ladies. 
Between  the  two  I  feel  too  weak  to  go  home  alone  :  be- 
sides, I  want  your  counsel.     Can  you  not  go  with  me?" 

Seti  went  with  her. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  letter — omitting  the 
usual  epistolary  preliminaries — which  Seti  read  and  pon- 
dered that  afternoon  : 

''  My  dear  Rachel,  you  know  how  little  I  thought  of 
remaining  in  Jerusalem  till  now.  But  our  relative  Nico- 
demus  has  been  urgent,  and  such  great  things  have  been 
happening  here  that  I  have  felt  more  like  sending  for  you 
and  your  father  to  come  to  me  than  like  returning  home. 

"  My  dear  daughter,  you  doubtless  have  wondered  that 
hitherto  I  have  said  so  little  in  my  letters  of  Jesus  of 
Nazareth  (as  he  is  called  here),  though  you  have  seemed 
so  anxious  to  hear  about  him.  The  fact  is  that  the  ideas 
of  the  Messiah  to  which  I  have  been  accustomed  and 
which  are  held  by  the  chief  people  here,  have  made  it 


THE   TREMBLING.  2G7 

hard  for  me  to  feel  my  way  to  a  definite  and  settled 
opinion  ;  and  I  have  been  unwilling  to  write  much  on  a 
subject  in  regard  to  which  my  mind  was  in  so  confused 
and  uncertain  a  state.  But  I  have  at  last — after  much 
prayer,  and  much  study  of  the  prophets,  and  much  in- 
quiry of  credible  witnesses,  as  well  as  some  seeing  with 
my  own  eyes — come  to  see  my  way  clearly.  Yes,  my  dear 
daughter,  I  do  indeed  feel  sure  at  last  that  Jesus  is  our 
long-expected  Messiah.  If  the  proofs  of  this  which  he 
furnishes  are  not  sufficient  it  seems  impossible  to  ^^I'ove 
anything.  Even  Moses  himself  did  not  more  clearly  estab- 
lish his  Divine  mission. 

''  Nicodemus  has  helped  me  not  a  little.  He  is  a  very 
cautious  man — I  think  somewhat  too  cautious  and  slow  ; 
as  is  not  unnatural  to  one  who  has  so  much  to  lose — but 
at  home  he  makes  no  secret  of  his  conviction  that  it  is 
impossible  to  account  for  the  wonderful  deeds  of  Jesus 
save  on  the  supj)osition  that  God  is  with  him.  I  hope 
this  influential  man  will  soon  get  courage  to  speak  out. 

'MVhen  I  came  here  I  found  the  realitv  of  Jesus's 
miracles  admitted  ;  and,  after  I  had  learned  the  character 
of  his  life  and  teaching,  I  did  not  see  how  they  could  be 
accounted  for  reasonably  by  the  magical  art  and  evil 
spirits.  But  I  have  lately  fallen  in  with  some  of  his  dis- 
ciples, and  especially  with  some  friends  of  his  at  Bethany, 
who  have  given  me  a  more  clear  and  connected  view  of 
his  doings  and  teachings  than  I  had  before.  At  Bethany 
I  met  the  mother  of  Jesus — a  wonderful  woman,  whom  to 
see  and  hear  is  to  believe.  In  answer  to  my  inquiries,  she 
told  of  the  strangest  possible  events  preceding  and  fol- 
lowing the  birth  of  Jesus — of  an  angelic  annunciation,  of 
a  Divine  conception,  of  the  birth  at  Bethlehem,  of  shep- 


268  THE   TREMBLINCx. 

herds  sent  by  a  glory  of  angels  to  worship  the  child,  of  a 
caravan  of  princes  from  the  far  east  who  came,  star- 
guided,- to  do  him  homage,  of  a  flight  to  Egypt,  of  their 
return  on  the  death  of  Herod  to  live  at  Nazareth  in  Gali- 
lee till  Jesus  was  thirty  years  old,  of  how  good  and  holy 
he  was  during  all  those  years,  so  that  she  never  saw  a  fault 
in  him,  though  much  that  was  mysterious.  She  had  some- 
times felt  oppressed  by  the  mystery  which  always  hung 
about  him  like  a  silver  veil,  but  through  which  occasion- 
ally struggled  gleams  of  a  Divine  majesty  and  power.  As 
time  rolled  on,  and  the  child  had  long  since  become  the 
mature  man,  she  wondered  that  so  many  years  were  al- 
lowed to  pass  before  his  making  any  public  movement. 
But  she  knew  that  it  would  come  in  due  time  :  God  would 
be  as  good  as  His  word  ;  such  preparations  and  heralding 
would  not  be  an  idle  flourish  and  make-believe.  Then 
she  went  on  to  tell  me  about  his  forerunner  and  baptism 
and  first  miracle  near  three  years  ago  ;  and  of  the  many 
miracles  she  had  seen  since.  While  listening  to  his  teach- 
ing, she  had  been  quite  as  much  astonished  at  his  wisdom 
as  she  had  been  at  his  power.  It  was  a  very  strange  feel- 
ing the  mother  had  when  she  found  herself  looking  up  to 
her  son  as  being  immeasurably  above  her  in  everything. 
Still  she  rejoiced  in  the  fact  with  a  sort  of  awful  joy. 

*' As  she  told  me  all  these  things  there  was  so  much 
simplicity  and  truthfulness,  as  well  as  intelligence,  shin- 
ing in  her  face  and  whole  manner,  that  I  could  not  l)ut 
accept  her  testimony.  Then  how  I  wanted  to  see  him! 
This  I  had  never  done  until  a  few  days  ago.     And  it  was 

in  this  way  : 

"  Have  I  said  that  the  house  in  Bethany  where  I  saw 
Mary  the  mother  of  Jesus  was  the  house  of  one  Lazarua 


THE  TREMBLING.  269 

and  liis  two  sisters  ?  One  day  when  I  was  there  Lazarus 
comphiined  of  feeling  unwell.  The  sisters,  Mary  and 
Martha,  did  some  trifling  thing  for  him  and  thought  no 
more  of  it.  But,  instead  of  improving,  he  grew  worse.  A 
leech  was  called  in.  Still  the  brother  grew  worse.  Day 
by  day  the  shadows  deepened,  until  at  last  the  leech  him- 
self confessed  that  he  could  do  no  more.  Then  the  sisters 
said,  *  Though  the  leeches  cannot  help  Lazarus,  there  is 
one  who  can  ; '  and  they  immediately  sent  oif  a  messenger 
to  Jesus,  who  was  then  in  Galilee.  Day  after  day  passed 
and  still  no  Jesus  came.  Meanwhile  the  sick  man  pined 
and  wasted,  and  the  home  and  hearts  grew  darker  and 
darker,  and  at  last  the  leech  said  there  was  no  hope.  No, 
no  hope  in  him,  or  such  as  he,  but  still  hope  in  Jesus  that 
he  would  bring  or  send  help.  Can  it  be  that  he  will  suf- 
fer his  friend  to  die  ? — he  who  has  cured  all  sorts  of  dis- 
eases for  all  sorts  of  persons  with  whom  he  had  no  special 
tie  ? — I  was  there  and  saw  the  struggle  between  hope  and 
despair :  saw  despair  finally  triumph  as  last  words  were 
spoken,  as  the  breath  came  gaspingly,  as  the  light  faded 
from  the  eye  and  the  pulse  from  the  wrist  and — he  was 
gone.  Close  his  eyes,  0  friends  ;  straighten  out  the  stiff- 
ening limbs  ;  let  the  mourning  women  come  !  Lazarus 
is  dead — dead. 

''  The  sisters  gave  themselves  up  to  their  grief.  They 
refused  to  be  comforted.  They  could  not  understand  that 
dreadful  silence.  Had  the  seemingly  inexhaustible  foun- 
tains of  power  and  helpfulness  really  given  out  ?  At  all 
events,  all  was  now  over.  Nothing  remained  but  to  bury 
their  dead,  and  wait  with  streaming  eyes  and  broken 
hearts  for  their  own  turns  to  come.  And  the  sooner  they 
should  come  the  better. 


.X 


270  THE   TRExMBLING. 

'*  So  tlie  dead  was  buried,  the  lament  made,  and  the 
sisters  sat  down  with  despair  for  companion  in  a  liome 
wliere  midnight  had  come  in  pUice  of  midday.  Some  of  us 
sat  with  them  as  much  as  we  could— holding  their  hands  in 
silent  sympathy.  What  could  words  do  in  such  a  case  ! 
We  answered  their  groans  with  a  pressure  of  the  hand. 
AVe  followed  their  tears  with  our  own.  Every  now  and 
then,  amid  their  tears  and  groans,  they  exclaimed,  'If 
he  had  been  here  our  brother  had  not  died— had  not 

died.' 

^'S©  three  days  wore  away — carrying  with  them  what 
little  was  left  of  the  light  in  their  eyes  and  the  color  in 
their  cheeks.  On  the  fourth  day,  while  I  was  sitting 
with  them,  some  one  came  in  and  whispered  to  Martha. 
She  at  once  rose  and  hastened  out.  But  Mary  sat  still- 
not  even  appearing  to  notice  the  departure  of  her  sister. 
So  we  continued  sitting.  But  it  was  not  long  before  Mar- 
tha returned  with  flurried  haste,  and  with  an  expression 
on  her  face  that  seemed  like  the  first  faint  gray  of  dawn 
on  the  edge  of  a  black  bank  of  clouds.  Mary  started  up 
at  a  whisper  from  her,  and  with  something  of  the  same 
expression  on  her  face  followed  her  out.  We  followed, 
too  ;  for  we  thought  that  our  sympathetic  presence  at  the 
grave  where  we  supposed  they  were  going  might  still  be 
helpful  to  the  stricken  sisters. 

*' And  now,  my  dear  daughter,  prepare  to  read  some- 
thing wonderful.  My  hand  trembles  as  I  proceed  to 
write  it ;  and  sometimes  when  I  have  thought  of  it  such 
an  awe  has  come  over  me  that  I  could  not  have  then 
written  at  all.  But  my  nerves  are  now  steadier.  Be- 
hold what  happened ! 

^'  As  we  neared  the  cave  where  Lazarus  had  been  laid 


THE   TREMBLING.  271 

away,  we  saw  a  group  of  men.  Mary  darted  forward  and 
threw  herself  at  the  feet  of  one  of  them.  Then  I  under- 
stood it  all.  Jesus  and  his  disciples  had  at  last  come.  I 
did  not  need  to  hear  her  say,  '  Lord,  if  thou  hadst  been 
here  my  brother  had  not  died  ; '  for,  as  I  looked  with  all 
my  eyes  of  both  body  and  mind  on  the  face  that  was  look- 
ing down  so  compassionately  on  the  weeping  woman,  I 
saw  at  once  the  original  of  the  picture  that  his  mother 
had  made  for  me.  I  never  had  seen  such  a  face.  I  do 
not  expect  ever  to  see  another  like  it.  I  do  not  speak  of 
its  beauty,  though  beauty  was  not  wanting ;  nor  of  its 
majesty,  though  majesty  was  not  wanting ;  but  of  a  mys- 
terious something  that  seemed  to  lie  back  of  and  shine 
dimly  through  the  comeliness  and  the  kingliness — a  power 
behind  the  throne  greater  than  the  throne  itself ;  more 
beautiful  than  the  beauty,  more  majestic  than  the  maj- 
esty ;  a  certain  something  so  pure,  so  wise,  so  mighty, 
and  yet  so  loving  and  pitiful,  that  Divinity  himself  seemed 
looking  through  the  windows  of  flesh.  This  was  how  he 
seemed  to  me.  It  may  be  that  he  does  not  make  the  same 
impression  on  all ;  indeed,  I  know  that  he  does  not.  And 
even  to  me,  while  I  looked,  there  was  a  sensible  coming 
and  going  of  the  Divine  expression — like  a  rapid  flowing 
and  ebbing  on  the  strand  of  a  boundless  sea  of  mingled 
fire  and  foam.  Nay,  while  I  was  absorbed  in  watching 
him  the  Infinite  seemed  to  sweep  back  and  back,  and  at 
last  disappeared  altogether  —  leaving  nothing  but  the 
purely  human.  But  oh,  what  a  human  !  The  sands  laid 
bare  were  pure  gold.  So  gentle,  so  tender,  so  sympathetic 
as  his  tearful  eyes  rested  on  the  tearful  peoj^le — a  fright- 
ened dove  or  hind  would  have  taken  refuge  in  his  bosom. 
Mary  evidently  took  refuge  there. 


272  THE  TREMBLING. 

"  MV'here  liave  you  laid  liiin  ?^  said  the  most  sympa- 
thetic voice  iu  the  world. 

"  ^Come  and  see/  said  the  sisters ;  and  led  the  way  to 
one  of  the  tombs  close  by.  The  cave  was  wrought  into 
the  brow  of  a  hill,  and  was  closed  by  a  door  against  which 
rested  a  large  stone. 

"  ^Take  away  the  stone/  said  Jesus  ;  and  as  he  sj^ake 
I  seemed  to  see  the  Infinite  coming  back  into  his  face  with 
a  mighty  rush  and  completely  covering  the  merely  human 
out  of  sight. 

^'^We  were  breathless  with  expectation. 

'^  He  stood  for  a  moment  with  eyes  uplifted  and  lips 
that  moved — as  if  communing  with  the  sky.  Then,  in 
a  voice  that  had  in  it  such  a  commanding  quality,  such  a 
tone  of  unquestioned  and  unquestionable  supremacy  as  I 
had  never  before  noticed  in  any  voice,  and  which  seemed 
able  to  speak  a  world  out  of  nothing,  he  cried  : 

" '  Lazarus,  come  forth  ! ' 

"  Would  the  dead  hear  ?  I  knew  he  would  hear.  The 
voice  itself  jiredicted  a  resurrection ;  and  I  felt  in  every 
fibre  of  my  being  that  almightiness  was  present  and  fail- 
ure impossible.  And  yet  how  intently  I  gazed  on  the 
door  of  that  tomb — how  intently  I  listened  for  some  sound 
from  within  !  He  scarcely  had  done  speaking,  when,  sure 
enough,  there  was  within  the  cave  a  stir,  a  rustle,  a  step. 
Another  moment  and  the  heavy  door  swung  open,  as  of 
itself,  and  a  man  in  grave-clothes  appeared.  The  swath- 
ing bands  were  still  about  his  hands  and  feet — the  napkin 
was  still  about  his  face. 

"  '  Loose  him  and  let  him  go  ! '  bade  Jesus. 

''The  people  obeyed,  and  lo,  our  friend  Lazarus  of 
old  !     Not  the  fever-stricken,  delirium-haunted,  emaci- 


THE   TREMBLING.  273 

ated  Lazarus  of  a  few  days  ago,  who  could  not  have  stood 
on  his  feet  without  being  wholly  supported  ;  but  the  Laz- 
arus of  his  best  days,  able  to  go  and  come  and  do  with 
the  best.  Also,  looking  as  he  did  then,  but  with  a  differ- 
ence. The  mystery  of  the  unseen  was  in  his  face.  He 
seemed  in  possession  of  vast  secrets.  With  this  was  a  look, 
first  of  bewilderment  and  surprise,  then  of  recognition — 
recognition  of  him  whose  potential  word  had  brought  him 
back  to  the  world.  He  knelt  at  the  feet  of  Jesus,  and 
kissed  his  hand — as  men  do  homage  to  their  king.  His 
King  had  come. 

"Any  doubt  whether  the  death  was  real  ?  Not  to  those 
who,  like  myself,  had  seen  the  sick  man  decline  from  day 
to  day  until  the  last  feeble  breath  was  drawn  and  the 
body  grew  cold  and  stiff.  Not  to  those  who  j^repared  the 
body  for  burial  and  carried  it  forth  to  the  tomb.  Not  to 
those  who  stood  by  the  cave-mouth  when  the  door  swung 
back,  four  days  after  ;  nor  to  those  who  took  off  from  the 
living  man  the  cerements  of  the  dead.  The  smell  of 
death  could  not  be  mistaken.     No,  there  is  no  doubt. 

'^  Since  then  I  have  seen  Jesus  several  times,  and  liave 
talked  with  him.  And  I*  hnoiv  that  he  is  our  Messiah. 
Would  that  you  and  your  grandfather  and  all  the  dear 
family  could  see  and  hear  him  too  !  I  feel  that  you  all 
would,  and  must,  judge  as  I  do.  Both  my  eyes  and  my 
lieart  recognize  him.  I  seem  to  know  him  by  a  new 
internal  sense. 

*'  Not  so,  however,  our  chief  men.  He  does  not  impress 
them  as  he  does  me.  They  are  getting  exceedingly  bitter 
against  him.  Every  new  wonder  increases  their  exasper- 
ation. I  am  ashamed  to  say  it — but  I  have  no  doubt 
that  they  would  gladly  take  his  life.     It  must  be  that 


274  THE   TREMBLING. 

they  are  judicially  blinded  ;  or,  if  not,  that  an  evil  mood 
of  the  heart  and  will  wonderfully  hinders  perce2)tion  in 
religious  matters. 

''  I  would  like  to  say  more  ;  but  I  hope  to  see  you  soon, 
and  to  make  you  a  joyful  sharer  of  my  faith  by  a  fuller 
account  of  what  I  have  seen  and  heard. 

"  But  what  is  this  that  I  hear  ?  Hints  come  to  me 
almost  daily  about  you  and  the  great  alliance.  And  yet 
you  said  nothing  about  it  in  your  last.  Just  before  he 
left  for  Eome,  your  father  wrote  me  that  the  emperor  had 
made  proposals  for  you  in  behalf  of  his  nephew  and  heir ; 
and  that  this  was  partly  the  occasion  of  his  going  to  Rome. 
I  hope  that  you  will  speak  freely  in  your  next.  I  can  see 
what  great  advantage  to  our  joeople,  not  to  say  to  all 
peoples,  might  come  from  such  an  alliance  ;  especially  as 
I  hear  the  best  things  said  of  the  young  Caesar.  He  is 
said  to  be  like  his  excellent  father.  Is  it  possible  that  a 
daughter  of  mine  will  become  more  than  a  second 
Esther  ?  " 

Such  was  the  letter — omitting  the  usual  formalities  of 
beginning  and  ending.  While  Seti  was  reading  it,  Rachel 
kept  her  eyes  fastened  anxiously  on  his  face — especially 
as  he  approached  the  end.  When  at  last  he  looked  up, 
she  came  and  stood  before  him  and  put  a  hand  on  each 
shoulder  and  looked  beseechingly  into  his  eyes. 

'^ Grandfather,  had  you  known  of  this  before?*^ 

Seti  slowly  bowed  his  head. 

'^  Why  did  not  my  father  tell  me  ?  " 

'^Perhaps  he  did  not  want  to  agitate  you  unneces- 
sarily— perhaps  he  wanted  to  see  the  young  man  and 
make  inquiries  about  him,  and  learn  more  fully  from  the 
emperor   himself  all   that  was  implied   in  the  proposals 


THE   TREMBLING.  275 

before  allowing  you  to  be  troubled  with  the  matter.  You 
see  it  was  possible  that  such  inquiries  might  show  it  best 
to  decline  the  oifer  without  its  coming  before  you  at 
all.'^ 

*^  Grandfather,  let  it  never  come  before  me.  In  ad- 
vance, I  put  it  away  from  me  with  both  hands."  And 
then  suddenly :  "  Do  you  think  father  would  be  willing  to 
sacrifice  me,  I  do  not  say  to  ambition,  for  I  know  him 
incapable  of  that,  but  to  what  he  thinks  to  be  the  inter- 
ests of  his  people  ?  " 

'^  I  think,''  said  Seti  slowly,  '^that  he  might  be  will- 
ing to  sacrifice  himself  for  such  an  object,  but  would  feel 
that  he  has  no  right  to  sacrifice  you.  Sacrifices  of  this 
sort  must  be  voluntary.'' 

"  Then  I  am  safe,"  she  exclaimed,  "  for  my  will  is  all 
another  way,  and  it  has  passed  beyond  my  control.  If  a 
victim  is  needed  for  our  people,  let  father  lay  me  on  an 
altar  of  stone  or  earth,  as  did  our  father  Abraham  his  son 
Isaac,  and  I  will  die  by  his  hand  gladly  ;  but  to  die  all 
my  life  long  on  such  an  altar  as  Tiberius — this  is  beyond 
my  power,  even  for  the  good  of  Israel.  It  seems  to  me 
an  awful  wickedness.     I  abhor  the  very  thought  of  it." 

''  And  so  do  I,"  said  Seti.     ''  I  do  not  believe  in  doing 

evil  that  good  may  come,  pagan  though  I "  (she  put 

her  hand  over  his  mouth).  "  But  they  say  that  German- 
icus  is  not  a  Tiberius,  but  is  like  his  father,  who  was 
among  the  very  best  of  the  Romans,  both  in  character 
and  accomplishments ;  and  is  it  not  just  possible  that  if 
the  young  man  should  come  here  in  person  to  plead  his 
own  cause  you  would " 

*'  I  would  not,  grandfather  ;  if  he  should  come  to  me 
with  his  head  weighted  with  all  the  diadems  that  ever 


276  THE   TREMBLING. 

were  worn,  and  with  all  the  personal  accomplishments 
that  ever  managed  to  flourish  on  a  heathen,  I  would  turn 
my  back  upon  him.  There,  now  !  Bear  witness,  ye 
heavens  ! " 

"  I  think  I  understand  you,"  replied  Seti,  after  a  mo- 
ment.    ''  I  feel  very  much  as  you  do  about  this  matter, 

heathen  though "  (she  again  hurried  her  hand  to  his 

mouth).  ''  But  do  not  speak  in  this  way  to  others.  I  see 
that  the  matter  is  getting  abroad,  and  you  will  be  likely 
to  get  hints,  inquiries,  counsels,  congratulations  from 
many  quarters.  Take  refuge  in  silence.  By  all  means 
do  not  look  like  an  empress,  and  an  angry  one,  as  you  did 
just  now.  You  shall  not  be  crowded  into  the  imperial 
throne  for  the  sake  of  Israel,  or  for  any  other  sake." 

She  kissed  him  for  answer ;  laid  her  head  on  his 
bosom  ;  and,  exhausted,  went  to  sleep  as  he  softly  stroked 
her  shapely  head.  So  he  sat  and  held  her  in  his  arms 
till  the  day  was  spent,  and  the  old  moon  in  the  arms  of 
the  new  looked  in  at  the  casement,  and  saw  the  new 
moon  in  the  arms  of  the  old.  And -those  moons  aloft 
that  are  never  weary,  and  worried,  and  worn,  shed  tears 
over  the  sublunary  ones  whose  lot  is  so  different — tears 
which  the  very  early  risers  in  Alexandria,  the  next  morn- 
ing, mistook  for  dew.  They  were  plain  people  ;  and,  like 
most  in  University  towns,  were  not  much  wiser  for  the 
University. 


XII. 

THE    VANISHING. 

Kaipbg  Trpd^  dvdp6TTG)v  (ipaxv  fierpov  fx^t. 

— Pindar,  Pyth.  iv.  509. 
Opportunity  for  men  has  a  brief  measure. 


1.  ^?Vhlere  are  they? 

2.  Call  on  thie  governor. 

3.  Invoke  the  University. 

4.  Let  Piso  do  his  best 

5.  Where  is  Qod? 


XII. 

THE   VANISHING. 

EARLY  the  next  morning  Seti  knocked  at  the  door 
of  our  friends.  Getting  no  answer,  he  repeated  the 
knock.  Still  hearing  nothing,  he  opened  the  door  and 
went  in.  The  room  was  vacant ;  as  was  also  the  sleep- 
ing-room adjoining.  Plainly  the  latter  had  not  been 
occupied  during  the  night.     He  was  alarmed. 

Summoning  two  servants  to  follow  him,  he  proceeded 
to  the  khan  with  rapid  steps.  What  was  his  dismay  to 
learn  from  the  landlord  that,  shortly  after  Cimon  and 
Aleph  came  in,  the  evening  before,  a  body  of  the  city 
police  appeared  and  demanded  to  search  their  room  for 
jewelry  stolen  from  the  warehouse  of  Malus.  Permission 
being  readily  given,  the  Cretan  agent  of  Malus,  well 
known  in  the  city,  who  accompanied  the  party  and  con- 
ducted the  search,  went  fumbling  about  on  his  hands 
and  knees  in  the  darker  parts  of  the  room  ;  and  finally 
held  up,  with  an  exclamation  of  delight,  a  small  casket 
which  he  declared  was  the  missing  article,  and  had 
been  missing  ever  since  Cimon's  visit  to  the  warehouse. 
Whereupon  the  chief  of  the  police  showed  a  warrant  for 
arresting  Cimon.  The  young  man  protested,  and  de- 
clared that  he  saw  the  Cretan  slyly  whip  the  casket  out 
of  the   bosom   of   his  own   tunic.     But  the  older  man 


280  .     THE   VANISHING. 

thought  that  the  police  were  right  in  claiming  that  they 
had  no  option  in  the  case — he  would  go  with  them  with- 
out resistance,  and  his  friend  could  take  such  measures 
on  the  morrow  for  his  relief  as  he  might  find  best.  So 
he  went  off  with  the  party,  leaving  the  young  man  stand- 
ing at  the  gate. 

But  this  party  had  scarcely  disappeared,  when  a  band 
of  Roman  soldiers  came  up  and  surrounded  Aleph.  '^  Are 
you  Aleph,  the  Chaldean?  "  demanded  the  leader. 

'^^  So  I  am  called,^'  said  the  young  man. 

"  Then  we  have  been  sent  to  arrest  you.*' 

''  For  what  ?  "  demanded  Aleph. 

^^  For  assault  and  battery  here  last  night ;  and  as  a 
suspected  enemy  of  the  emperor. '* 

'^Show  me  your  warrant,"  demanded  the  young  man. 

The  leader  produced  a  document  bearing  what  pur- 
ported to  be  the  seal  and  signature  of  the  governor.  "  Is 
this  document  genuine?"  said  Aleph  to  the  landlord, 
who  was  standing  by.  The  landlord  looked  at  the  paper 
and  nodded. 

''  Then  I  will  go  with  you,"  said  the  young  man 
calmly.  ^^  But  may  I  not  first  communicate  my  situa- 
tion to  my  friends,  that  they  may  have  an  opportunity  to 
set  me  right  with  the  authorities?" 

"We  were  not  authorized  to  allow  delay  for  any 
purpose." 

"You  will  have  to  delay,"  said  Aleph,  "for  the  pur- 
pose of  hearing  and  allowing  these  by-standers "  (sev- 
eral of  the  guests  of  the  khan  had  by  this  time  come  up) 
"to  hear  me  declare  that  I  am  innocent  of  the  charges 
brought  against  me,  and  can  prove  as  much,  opportunity 
being  given  me." 


THE  VANISHING. 


281 


A  soldier  approached  to  bind  liim.  Alepli  motioned 
him  away  with  his  cane.  ''I  have  said  that  I  will  go 
with  you.  I  now  say  that  I  will  go  with  you  without 
attempting  to  escape  while  going,  provided  you  leave  me 
free  and  in  possession  of  this  cane.  Otherwise  the  man 
who  approaches  me  does  so  at  his  peril." 

After  some  consultation  his  demand  was  granted  ;  and 
he  went  off  quietly  with  the  party,  saying  to  the  land- 
lord as  he  went,  ''  You  can  at  least  tell  what  you  have 

seen  and  heard." 

Such  was  the  account  given  to  Seti.  He  remained 
merely  to  ask  a  simple  question  :  ''  Could  there  be  any 
doubt  as  to  the  party  being  real  Roman  soldiers  ?  "  The 
landlord  thought  not :  they  had  the  equipment  of  Roman 
soldiers ;  and,  besides,  their  bearing  and  step  together 
were  professional. 

The  high-priest  hastened  back  to  the  Serapeum,  as- 
sumed his  pontifical  robes,  summoned  a  large  train  of 
servants,  and  proceeded  in  his  official  chariot,  drawn 
by  four  white  mules,  to  the  Roman  headquarters  in 
Bruchium.  Arrived  at  the  palace  of  the  governor,  a 
herald  stepped  before  the  gate,  blew  a  trumpet,  and 
cried:  ^' Seti  of  the  Serapeum,  high-priest  of  Egypt 
and  metropolitan,  desires  audience  of  Avilleus  Flac- 
cus.  Proprietor  and  Legate  of  C^sar  and  Governor  of 

Egypt.^^ 

In  a  few  moments  the  gates  were  thrown  open,  ana 

the  whole  party  entered  a  large  court,  where,  at  the  foot 
of  a  flight  of  marble  steps,  Seti  alighted  and  was  con- 
ducted by  an  obsequious  usher  into  the  audience-room 
and  presence  of  the  Roman  governor. 

Seti  was   dignified  and   formal;   coolly  saluting  his 


282  THE   VANISHING. 

excellency  with  all  the  usual  formalities,  but  not  a  jot 
beyond.  On  the  other  hand,  Flaccus,  an  ordinary  man 
to  look  at  but  wearing  the  extraordinary  toga  permitted 
to  the  imperial  representative,  was  exceedingly  demon- 
strative and  deferential  in  welcoming  his  illustrious  vis- 
itor. He  seemed  to  feel  that,  belonging  only  to  the 
Equestrian  Order  and  with  no  ancestors  save  those 
whose  names  had  been  written  with  water  and  in  water, 
he  was  socially  far  from  being  equal  to  the  freezingly  cold 
and  stately  Egyptian  pontiff  whose  sires  had  reigned  in 
palaces  and  temples  before  Eome  was  founded. 

Seti  cut  short  the  ceremonial.  Would  the  governor 
be  good  enough  to  say  whether  he  had  given  an  order  for 
the  arrest  of  a  regularly  enrolled  member  of  the  Univer- 
sity, an  inmate  of  the  Serapeum,  and  a  particular  friend 
of  himself  and  the  Alabarch  Alexander  ? 

Flaccus  appeared  to  consult  his  memory.  He  did  not 
remember  to  have  given  any  such  order. 

^'An  order  to  arrest  one  Aleph,  the  Chaldean,  as  a 
disturber  of  the  public  peace  and  a  suspected  enemy  of 
the  emperor  ?  "  suggested  Seti. 

No,  he  did  not  think  that  he  could  have  given  such 
an  order. 

^'An  order  executed  last  evening  by  a  company  of 
Roman  soldiers  ? "  continued  the  priest  in  the  same  icy 
tone. 

'*  Certainly  not." 

''  I  am  glad  to  hear  it,  and  to  have  your  authority  for 
denying  the  report  that  is  getting  abroad.  It  may  also 
be  for  your  interest  to  deny  it  personally  as  you  have 
opportunity  ;  for  the  young  man  in  question  is  a  great 
favorite,   not  only  with  the  Alabarch   and  myself,   but 


THE   VANISHING.  283 

also  with  the  young  men  in  the  University,  who  repre- 
sent the  noblest  lionum  families  and  a  great  interest  with 
tlie  emperor  and  the  Caesar/^ 

^'I  think,"  said  Flaccus,  with  a  not  very  successful 
attempt  at  an  arch  look,  '^that  I  know  of  somebody  who 
is  likely  to  have  more  interest  with  Germanicus  than  any 
of  them." 

*^  However  that  may  be,"  said  Seti  emphatically,  '^^it 
is  certain  that  the  young  man  will  have  such  justice  as 
our  best  efforts  can  secure." 

"  What  can  I  do  ?  "  said  the  Roman  uneasily. 

"I  will  tell  your  excellency,"  said  the  Egyptian. 
*'It  is  understood  in  the  city  that  a  party  of  Roman 
soldiers,  under  a  written  warrant  from  you,  arrested  and 
carried  off,  we  know  not  where,  a  privileged  member  of 
the  University,  for  whom  the  best  vouchers  can  be  found. 
But,  as  I  now  learn  from  you,  that  warrant  must  have 
been  forged  ;  and  what  aj^peared  to  be  Roman  soldiers, 
were  not  such,  but  other  parties  in  disguise.  Now  I 
would  respectfully  suggest  that  you  give  me  and  the 
other  friends  of  the  young  man  written  authority  to 
search  for  and  rescue  him  at  whatever  cost  to  those  who 
have  carried  him  off.  This  will  answer  our  purpose, 
and  at  the  same  time  serve  to  defend  you  from  the  sus- 
picions of  the  people." 

Flaccus  hesitated,  bit  his  lip,  twirled  a  gold  badge 
that  hung  from  his  neck,  looked  at  every  object  in  the 
room  save  Seti.     Seti  looked  at  nothing  save  him. 

The  priest  rose  to  go.  ''  Time  is  of  great  consequence 
to  me  this  morning.  Am  I  to  understand  that  your 
excellency  declines  to  authorize  me  in  writing  to  rescue 
from  robbers  and  murderers  a  young  man  for  whom  the 


284  THE   VANISHING. 

Altibarch  and  myself,  as  well  as  the  University  at  large, 
offer  to  stand  vouchers  ?  " 

"  I  do  not  see  why  you  need  a  written  authorization 
from  me,''  said  Flaccus,  beginning  to  sharpen  a  reed. 

''  I  did  not  say  that  we  need  such  a  document.  You 
need  to  give  it."  He  said  this  last  in  a  low  but  a  very 
distinct  and  measured  tone  of  voice. 

"  Well,  I  will  give  it,''  said  the  governor  with  sudden 
decision — "  if  it  will  oblige  you  and  your  friends." 

"  It  ivill  oblige  us,"  said  Seti ;  and  in  a  few  moments 
he  took  punctilious  leave  with  the  desired  document  in 
his  possession. 

He  returned  at  once  to  the  Serapeum.  Resuming  his 
ordinary  dress,  he  proceeded  to  the  lecture  room,  where, 
as  yet,  he  found  only  two  or  three  students,  among  whom 
was  Publius  Cornelius.  He  beckoned  them  to  him,  and 
asked  such  co-operation  as  they  could  give  in  a  matter  he 
was  about  to  bring  before  the  whole  class.  Shortly  they 
came  pouring  in,  rather  obstreperously,  I  fear,  as  college 
boys  have  been  wont  to  do  from  the  beginning ;  but  as 
soon  as  they  set  eyes  on  their  teacher  there  was  a  pro- 
found hush  ;  for  they  saw  at  once  that  something  unusual 
had  happened— that  the  Seti  they  had  hitherto  known 
had  given  place  to  quite  a  different  Seti  and  a  much 
younger  man.  All  the  old  dignity  and  authority  were  in 
his  face  and  bearing  ;  but  somehow  there  had  come  into 
the  old  look  a  roused  and  forceful  expression  such  as  a 
crisis  might  be  expected  to  call  out  in  a  young  man 
largely  endowed  both  as  a  man  of  thought  and  action. 
Calm,  Watchful,  mindful  of  all  that  is  passing  and  likely 
to  pass,  prepared  to  throw  his  whole  force  into  action  at 
a  moment's  warning.     All  the  students  were  in  a  hush  of 


THE  VANISHING.  385 

expectation   as  they  saw  the  new  man  sitting  on  the 

old  bema. 

He  began  with  saying  that  he  had  no  lecture  for  them 
that  morning.  But  he  had  something  better  than  a 
lecture — an  opportunity  for  a  good  action.  He  then  con- 
cisely and  simply  narrated  his  morning  experiences,  and 
held  up  the  document  he  had  obtained  from  Flaccus. 
Perhaps  the  young  man  had  been  killed.  Perhaps  he 
was  only  imprisoned  in  some  out-of-the-way  place.  It 
was  for  his  friends  to  find  out  the  facts  as  soon  as  possible. 
He  knew  of  none  who  could  do  as  prompt  and  good  service 
in  the  matter  as  the  generous-minded  fellow-students  of 
the  extraordinary  young  man  who  had  so  commended 
himself  to  their  admiration.    Would  they  undertake  it  V 

The  response  was  instantaneous.  Many  sprang  to 
their  feet,  with  flushed  faces  and  hot,  indignant  words. 

*^  A  conspiracy  ! "  cried  one. 

''An  insult  to  the  University,"  cried  another.  Some 
called  out ''Z>m6'o"  interrogatively ;  and  others,  of  the 
bolder  and  more  highly  connected  of  the  Romans,  among 
whom  was  Publius  Cornelius,  shook  their  fists  signifi- 
cantly in  the  direction  of  the  Caesareum.  One  thing  was 
evident  to  the  watchful  eye  of  Seti— that  there  would  be 
no  lack  of  sympathetic  readiness  on  the  part  of  the  Sera- 
peum  to  act  as  he  wished.     What  did  he  wish  ? 

This  was  brought  out  by  Cornelius,  who  declared  that 
they  were  all  of  one  mind  to  further  any  plan  that  their 
venerable  instructor  might  have  to  propose ;  and  moved 
that  a  committee  be  appointed  to  confer  with  him  as  to 
what  had  best  be  done.  He  also  proposed  that  this  com- 
mittee should  secure  the  co-operation  of  the  Museum, 
which  he  had  no  doubt  would  be  enthusiastically  given. 


286  THE   VANISHING. 

**  Besides,"  he  added,  as  he  repeated  his  emphatic 
gesture  toward  the  north-east,  *Hhe  Museum  is  nearer 
than  ourselves  to  the  sources  of  this  mischief  and  can 
explore  them  better/^ 

A  committee  was  appointed — including  Cornelius. 
These  gathered  about  Seti.  His  plan  was  that  some 
students  should  find  out  whether  Draco  and  the  son  of 
Flaccus  were  present  in  the  city  all  the  last  night — that 
others  should  find  out  whether  any  soldiers  were  then 
absent  from  their  quarters,  and  if  so  to  whose  force  they 
belonged — that  still  others  should  watch  the  gates  and 
harbors  for  their  return  and  note  the  time  and  direction 
of  it — that  still  others  should  rummage  the  streets,  espe- 
cially in  the  neighborhood  of  the  khan  Rachotis,  for  some 
who  had  observed  the  party,  noticed  the  direction  they 
took,  perhaps  witnessed  an  embarkation.  The  students 
interested  were  so  many,  they  could,  by  properly  distribut- 
ing themselves,  make  all  these  inquiries  at  once.  No  time 
should  be  lost.     Let  them  report  to  him. 

Feeling  sure  that  the  young  men  would  need  no  further 
impulse,  the  priest  left  them,  and,  stopping  at  his  room  for 
the  parcel  which  Cimon  had  put  in  his  hands,  proceeded  to 
the  office  of  Alexander's  legal  adviser.  This  was  in  a 
wing  of  the  extensive  palace  of  the  great  banker  whose 
affairs  furnished  the  greater  part  of  the  business  of  the 
lawyer.  The  man  was  both  a  Roman  and  a  Greek — his 
father  being  from  Tusculum,  and  his  mother  from 
Athens.  He  possessed  in  a  remarkable  degree  the  men- 
tal characteristics  of  both  nations — the  practical  and  reso- 
lute character  of  the  one,  and  the  acuteness  and  subtlety 
of  the  other.  To  a  profound  knowledge  of  Roman  law, 
especially  as  applied  in  the  provinces,  he  added  a  familiar 


THE   VANISHING.  287 

acquaintance  with  the  usages  of  Alexandria  as  a  business 
community — having  lived  in  the  city  from  childhood. 
Alexander  early  discovered  his  abilities,  and  by  degrees 
made  him  a  confidential  adviser  in  legal  matters,  esjie- 
cially  after  he  became  a  proselyte  and  attached  himself  to 
the  Diapleuston. 

Marcus  Piso  was  not  much  of  a  man  to  look  at — at  the 
first  look.  Small,  slender,  somewhat  stooping,  no  longer 
young — it  was  necessary  to  be  with  him  for  a  time  and 
watch  his  face  and  manner — his  keen  eye  and  protuberant 
brow — as  he  dispatched  business  with  one  and  another. 
Then  he  inspired  confidence  both  as  to  his  ability  and 
integrity.  Then  one  said,  ''Alexander  is  not  mistaken 
in  his  man.'^ 

The  little  man  did  not  show  to  advantage  as  he  rose 
to  receive  his  imposing  visitor.  But,  what  was  better 
under  the  circumstances,  he  at  once  conducted  Seti  to  an 
inner  office  and  listened  with  all  his  ears,  and  eyes  too,  to 
a  brief  account  of  our  friends,  of  what  had  just  transpired, 
and  of  the  measures  taken  for  the  discovery  of  Aleph. 

''I  tell  you  these  facts,"  said  Seti,  ''to  interest  you  as 
much  as  possible  in  these  men  whom  the  Alabarch  and 
myself  intend  to  support  and  befriend  to  the  utmost  of 
our  power." 

"  I  have  been  strongly  interested  in  them  ever  since 
the  affair  at  the  Diapleuston,  which  I  happened  to  wit- 
ness ;  and  my  thoughts  were  running  on  them  when  you 
came  in  ;  for  news  of  the  arrest  of  Oimon  for  theft  had 
just  reached  me." 

"  As  if  a  man  having  credit  with  Alexander  to  the 
amount  of  200,000  gold  staters  was  likely  to  pilfer  !  No, 
the  charge  and  the  arrest  were  gotten  up  to  prevent  or 


288  THE   VANISHING. 

discredit  an  impending  suit  by  Oimon  against  Malus. 
And  Alepli  has  been  killed,  or  spirited  away,  partly  to 
aid  the  same  purpose,  and  partly  to  gratify  the  malice  of 
certain  others  whose  names  you  can  guess."   . 

Seti  then  produced  Cimon's  parcel,  and  continued  : 
"  I  am  told  that  you  will  find  in  this  parcel  all  needful 
particulars  in  regard  to  the  proposed  suit  against  Malus. 
Please  examine  it  at  once  and  if  you  find  it  warrants  legal 
proceedings  institute  them  without  delay.  Of  course 
Malus  is  strongly  intrenched  and  will  fight  to  the  death  ; 
but  we  will  back  you  with  all  our  forces.  I  am  sure  that 
I  speak  for  Alexander  as  well  as  for  myself.  Meanwhile, 
whatever  you  can  do  to  cancel  or  relieve  the  imprisonment 
of  Cimon,  please  do.  The  case  of  the  young  man  I  will 
look  after  myself." 

Seti's  next  visit  was  to  Rachel — not  by  way  of  the 
street,  but  by  a  private  door  in  the  inner  office  of  the 
advocate,  by  which  he  was  accustomed  to  communicate 
with  the  banker.  He  found  his  granddaughter  in  Miri- 
am's room.  And  he  saw  at  once,  in  the  looks  of  the  two 
women,  that  the  evil  news  had  preceded  him.  Miriam 
looked  totally  exhausted,  and  lay  on  her  bed  feebly 
moaning,  with  closed  eyes  ;  her  hand  held  by  Rachel. 
As  to  Rachel  herself,  Seti  was  struck  by  the  change  that 
had  taken  place.  A  touch  of  mingled  amazement  and 
suffering  was  in  her  face  ;  but  into  the  profoundly  emo- 
tional expression  had  come  "  ?iescio  quod  predarimi  ct 
smgulare  " — a  look  of  self-control  that  had  been  fought 
for  and  taken  possession  of  by  fire  and  sword  ;  such  a 
victory  that  another  like  it  would  be  ruin.  A  certain 
new  and  powerful  expression  was  in  every  feature. 
Lights  and  shadows  of  the  heroic  were  hiding  in  the 


THE  VANISHING.  289 

depths  of  her  eyes  and  in  the  curves  of  her  lips.     She 
came  and  sat  on  a  stool  at  his  feet. 

''Grandfather,  we  have  tried  to  wait  patiently  for 
you.  You  see  that  we  know  all.  Now  tell  us  what  you 
have  done  ;  for  I  know  you  have  done  something." 

Seti  told  of  his  morning  movements. 

''Do  you  think  it  possible  that  they  have  hilled 
him?"  she  asked  with  awe  in  her  voice  and  white 
lips. 

"  Sometimes  I  think  not ;  and  yet  it  would  be  hard 
to  give  my  reasons.  His  enemies  are  capable  of  any 
crime.  Perhaps  the  only  ground  of  my  opinion  or  feel- 
ing that  he  has  not  been  killed  is  the  wonderful  resources, 
both  of  body  and  mind,  which  he  has  for  self-protection. 
I  have  never  seen  a  young  man  with  such  powers,  and 
such  a  complete  and  never-failing  mastery  of  them.  lie 
is  a  natural  prince  and  hero,  and  somehow  and  some- 
where has  had  a  training  to  match.  He  is  just  the  man 
for  great  and  desperate  situations.  He  is  an  empire  in 
himself.  I  hardly  wonder  at  Cornelius,  who  says  of  him 
that  he  has  in  his  veins  the  blood  of  the  immortal  gods. 
Body  and  soul,  he  is  built  like  a  temple.  What  Karnac 
was,  Aleph  the  Chaldean  is." 

"  It  is  even  so,  grandfather,"  murmured  the  maiden  ; 
and  she  buried  her  burning  face  in  her  hands. 

"This  gives  me  hope,"  continued  Seti.  "Besides, 
as  I  have  told  vou,  he  refused  to  be  bound  or  to  give  up 
his  staff  ;  and  the  same  wariness  that  led  him  to  retain 
this  means  of  defense  would  be  apt  to  keep  him  on  his 
guard  against  assault.  Yes,  such  a  great  and  resource- 
ful nature  would  not  be  killed  easily." 

"'  Say  not  at  all,  grandfather.     Let  us  not  imagine 


290  THE   VANISHING. 

such  a  thing,  lest  it  take  the  heart  out  of  us/''  and  she 
shuddered. 

Seti  looked  at  her  keenly  for  a  moment.  She  suddenly 
drew  herself  up  as  she  sat,  tossed  away  with  both  hands 
the  heavy  tresses  that  had  fallen  over  her  face,  and  looked 
up  with  wide-open  eyes  into  his.  He  laid  his  hand  ten- 
derly on  her  head,  and  sighed  before  saying  : 

"  It  is  as  you  say.  We  must  hope  for  the  best  if  we 
would  escape  the  worst.  Aleph  the  Chaldean  is  a  living 
prisoner  somewhere,  and  we  must  find  and  release  him 
as  soon  as  possible.     So  I  must  go.'' 

"Take  Miriam  and  me  as  active,  though  invisible, 
partners  in  this  matter,  dear  grandfather,"  pleaded 
Rachel.  "  It  is  necessary  for  us  if  not  for  you.  We  can- 
not sit  here  and  wait,  and  wait,  with  folded  hands  till 
somebody  brings  us  word  of  what  others  are  doing,  or 
trying  to  do.  It  would  kill  us.  We  have  kept  ourselves 
alive  thus  far  only  by  praying  :  now  we  must  have  some- 
thing to  do  to  help  our  praying.  You  see  how  the  case 
stands  with  me — it  is  a  necessity  J* 
*'  But  what  can  you  do  ?  " 

"  We  can  at  least  try  to  do  in  some  womanly  ways. 
This  will  be  a  relief  to  us.  You  are  working  by  means 
of  the  famous  University  ;  perhaps  we  can  work  quite  as 
effectively  by  a  humbler  class  of  agents.  At  least  we  can 
try :  and  our  thinking  and  planning  may  save  us  if  they 
do  not  save  him.     In  my  father's  absence  I  want  your 

approval."" 

"  I  think  you  are  right,"  said  the  priest  slowly.  "  So 
be  it,  then.  It  may  be  that  your  womanly  devisings 
will  be  the  first  to  penetrate  the  mystery.  I  shall  not 
complain  if  it  prove  so."*' 


THE   VAN^ISHIN"G.  291 

Seti  kissed  her  and  departed,  saying  to  himself,  "  Some 
trees  are  killed  by  decapitation,  but  this  tree  becomes 
thriftier  and  fairer  than  ever." 

Was  it  decapitation  ?  Well,  if  it  was  not  that,  it  was 
something  that  marvellously  resembled  it.  Seti  was  an 
experienced  man,  and  his  faculty  of  insight  was  great : 
and  I  would  sooner  take  his  judgment  in  the  matter  than 
that  of  most.  He  thought  the  trial  that  had  befallen  his 
granddaughter  terribly  severe.  I  think  the  same.  I 
should  be  sorry  to  have  that  stroke  repeated.  Nobly  as 
the  first  blow  has  been  borne,  I  could  not  answer  for 
a  second.  There  are  limits  to  successful  pruning.  A 
plant  may  be  decapitated  once  too  often.  Seti  thought 
so  too,  and  he  carried  away  with  him  a  greater  burden 
than  he  brought ;  for  now  he  understood  that  the  ques- 
tion was  no  longer  how  to  save  Aleph,  but  how  to  save 
Aleph  and  Rachel. 

The  Egyptian  went  home  praying — praying  to  Amun 
Re.  An  able  lawyer,  an  enthusiastic  University,  a  re- 
sourceful high-priest  armed  with  an  official  document, 
were  all  very  well  in  their  place  ;  but  they  needed  pre- 
siding over  and  empowering  by  the  Supernatural.  Would 
He  do  it?  In  the  course  of  his  long  observation,  Seti 
had  known  some  striking  cases  of  poetical  justice  in 
human  affairs.  The  wicked  had  been  taken  in  their  own 
toils.  Into  the  pits  they  had  dug  for  their  neighbors  they 
had  fallen  themselves.  But  it  was  often  otherwise.  The 
righteous  had  fallen  before  the  wicked.  Craft  and  power 
and  powerful  money  had  proved  too  mighty  for  goodness 
and  justice.  If  good  causes  had  always  thrived,  the 
Romans  would  not  be  in  Egpyt,  nor  Flaccus  in  the 
Cfesareum,    nor    Malus    in   the    grandest   warehouse   of 


292  THE   VANISniKG. 

Emjiorium  Street.  So  who  can  tell  what  Amun  Re  will 
do  ?  And  yet  prayer  is  the  breath  of  the  nations  and  the 
ages.    Nature  herself  says.  Let  us  pray. 

So  the  thoughts  of  Seti  prayed,  and  prayed  mightily, 
as  he  bent  his  steps  to  the  Serapeum. 


XIII. 
THE    SEARCH. 

AXAor'  (lA/loZtTf  diaidvaoovatv  uvpai, 

— Pindar,   Olymp.  vii.  173. 
Different  winds  rush  in  different  directions. 


1.  Oti,  for  Ariadne! 

2.  Iveaping  to  a  conclusion 

3.  Domestics  at  new  Vv'orR. 

4.  F*hiaros  and.  some  stars. 


XIII, 

THE    SEARCH. 

EACHEL  went  and  sat  by  the  bedside,  in  long 
silence.  At  length  she  began  unconsciously  to 
think  aloud — at  first  slowly  and  with  long  pauses  ;  then 
more  rapidly. 

"They  have  not  killed  him.  Then  they  have  taken 
him  out  of  the  city  to  confine  him  somewhere.  .  .  .  The 
shortest  and  least  embarrassed  way  out  of  the  city  would 
be  by  the  gate  of  the  Moon  to  Mareotis.  .  .  .  Here  boat 
would  be  taken.  Where  would  it  go  ?  There  is  no  place 
where  a  prisoner  could  be  confined  on  the  islands  of  the 
lake  or  on  the  southern  shore — none  in  the  pleasure-villas 
on  the  banks  of  the  canal  connecting  the  lake  with  the 
Nile — none  on  the  Nile  itself  till  one  comes  to  the  for- 
tress that  once  belonged  to  the  family  of  Seti,  but  now 
is  in  possession  of  the  Roman  governor.  I  have  it — there 
are  dungeons  there,  and  Sextus  Flaccus  has  access  to 
them,  and  they  are  well  away  from  observation.  Tliat  is 
the  place  where  they  have  carried  him.'' 

Her  face  flushed,  and  her  eyes  flashed  with  sudden 
decision.  "Grandfather's  way  may  be  sure,  but  it  is 
slow  ;  and  by  the  time  he  finds  his  way  up  the  Nile  to 
the  Setian  stronghold  it  may  be  too  late.  I  will  leap  to 
a  conclusion." 


296  THE   SEARCH. 

Slie  at  once  summoned  all  the  domestics  of  the  house- 
hold. Did  any  of  them  know  of  a  traveling  merchant, 
accustomed  to  carry  liis  wares  from  house  to  house  along 
the  east  bank  of  the  Nile  ?  Several  knew  of  such  a  per- 
son. Was  he  a  Jew  ?  Was  he  of  the  Diapleuston  ?  Was 
he  quick-witted  and  prudent  ?  Was  he  now  in  the  city  ? 
Receiving  an  affirmative  answer  to  all  these  questions, 
she  at  once  dispatched  a  man  who  professed  to  know 
where  the  peddler  could  be  found,  to  bring  him  without 

delay. 

In  less  than  an  hour  her  messenger  returned  with  the 
very  peddler  whose  acquaintance  we  made  in  the  first 
chapter  of  this  narrative.  She  looked  at  him  narrowly. 
He  was  not  an  attractive  object — what  with  his  poor 
clothes,  his  unkempt  hair,  and  his  excessive  obsequious- 
ness. But  he  did  look  shrewd  and  to  a  degree  reliable. 
At  all  events  she  must  try  him.  So  she  told  him  that 
she  had  heard  a  favorable  account  of  his  intelligence  and 
discretion  ;  that  she  wanted  to  employ  such  a  man  to  go 
up  the  Nile  as  far  as  the  Setian  palace  on  a  confidential 
mission.  She  wished  to  find  out,  without  the  knowledge 
of  any  armed  force  that  might  be  there,  whether  a  young 
man  is  held  in  confinement  in  the  palace.  And  she 
thought  that,  if  he  would  furnish  himself  with  such  a 
pack  of  goods  as  seemed  most  likely  to  attract  the  serv- 
ants and  others  about  the  premises,  he  might  incident- 
ally contrive  to  get  from  them  the  desired  information. 
She  would  furnish  the  goods,  and,  besides,  reward  him 
richly  for  the  service. 

"Is  the  young  man  tall  and  marvelously  well  propor- 
tioned ?  "  inquired  the  Jew. 
"He  is." 


THE   SEARCH.  297 

"■  Has  he  the  face  of  Moses,  and  the  bearing  of  a 
king  ?  " 

"So  it  is  said/' 

"Is  it  not  he  who  on  the  last  Sabbath  defended  our 
synagogue  from  sacrilege  ?  " 

"It  is." 

"Then/'  said  the  peddler,  "I  will  do  what  the  lady 
asks  of  me — not  for  her  rewards,  though  Father  Abra- 
ham knows  that  I  am  poor  enough.  I  will  do  it  for  the 
young  man's  sake,  who  can  beat  the  heathen  at  their  own 
weapons.  I  can  beat  them  in  trade  ;  but  it  is  a  satisfac- 
tion to  me  to  see  them  beaten  after  another  fashion." 

"Have  you  ever  been  at  the  palace?"  inquired 
Rachel. 

"Often,  in  the  way  of  trade.  An  old  Egyptian  and 
his  wife,  a  Jewess,  keep  the  place  when  the  governor  is 
not  there,  and  are  employed  about  the  premises  in  some 
way  at  all  times." 

"Here  is  a  purse  of  gold.  Make  up  your  pack  as 
attractive  to  these  people  as  possible.  Stay  with  them 
as  long  as  you  can.  Be  ingenious.  Keep  eyes  and  ears 
open.  Spare  no  money  nor  promises  that  will  help  your 
object.  I  will  see  that  your  promises  are  fulfilled.  Take 
the  first  boat  going  south  ;  be  put  ashore  at  a  little  dis- 
tance from  the  palace  ;  then  do  the  best  an  ingenious 
man  can,  to  find  out  whether  Aleph,  the  Chaldean,  is 
confined  there,  and,  if  so,  how  he  may  be  released.  Re- 
turn or  send  as  soon  as  possible.     But  stop " 

She  went  to  a  desk,  and  wrote  on  a  small  sheet  of 
papyrus  as  follows:  "Your  friends  have  found  you. 
You  shall  have  help  soon. — R." 

She  handed  the  paper  to  the  Jew,  saying,  "Should 


298  THE   SEARCH. 

you  find  him,  perliaps  you  may  be  able  to  get  this  to 
him/^ 

The  man  hastened  away.  What  should  slie  do  now, 
and  during  the  days  that  might  pass  before  she  could 
hope  to  hear  from  the  peddler  ?  To  sit  still  and  wait, 
she  felt  to  be  impossible.  Was  there  anything  more  she 
could  be  doing  to  keep  her  heart  from  preying  on  itself  ? 
She  asked  the  question  of  Miriam  as  well  as  of  herself. 

Miriam  had  quickened  and  strengthened  bodily  under 
the  rousing  of  thought  and  care  for  one  outside  of  her- 
self, and  was  sitting  up  thoughtfully  in  her  bed.  Yes, 
she  thought  that  something  further  might  be  done.  She 
doubted  whether  the  students  would  be  as  good  at  get- 
ting information  from  the  town-people  as  would  some 
others.  The  frequent  broils  and  jealousies  between  the 
two  classes  would  put  inquirers  at  a  disadvantage.  And, 
then,  the  people  who  would  be  most  likely  to  notice  the 
abduction,  because  most  likely  to  be  abroad  in  the  even- 
ing, would  be  the  humbler  classes,  whose  homes  had 
little  to  attract  them.  The  humble  stall-keepers;  the 
daily  workmen  hanging  about  the  street-corners ;  the 
street-boys,  brimful  of  curiosity,  afraid  of  nothing,  ready 
to  run  after  anything  unusual  ;  the  water-men,  that  wait 
for  jobs  at  the  gate  of  the  Moon  or  on  the  lake- wharves, 
would  be  more  likely  to  notice  and  more  free  to  speak  of, 
to  people  of  their  own  class,  the  passing  of  the  soldiers. 

'"Suppose  we  ask  the  servants,"  said  she,  '' whether 
they  know  any  of  their  own  class  living  on  the  route  from 
the  khan  to  the  Gate — any  workmen,  or  watermen,  or 
waifs  likely  to  have  been  in  that  neighborhood  waiting  for 
what  might  turn  up.  If  they  themselves  do  not  know  of 
any  such,  they  will  be  likely  to  know  some  who  do  ;  and 


THE   SEARCH.  399 

SO  inquiries  may  be  set  in  motion  through  nil  the  humbler 
classes.  Give  the  servants  a  holiday — several  holidays,  if 
necessary.  We  can  dispense  with  them.  I  feel  a  return 
of  my  old  vigor — the  God  of  Israel  be  praised  ! "  and,  to 
the  surprise  of  Rachel,  the  woman  drew  herself  from  the 
bed  into  a  chair  that  stood  by  the  side  of  it. 

Rachel  was  too  much  absorbed  in  her  object  and  plans 
to  spend  any  time  in  speculating  on  that  mysterious  con- 
nection of  the  soul  with  the  body  that  enables  the  former 
in  its  roused  state  to  infuse  its  own  healthy  vigor  into 
the  latter.  But  she  was  glad  that  the  j^ressure  of  cir- 
cumstances had  so  opportunely  transformed  the  helpless 
into  a  helper,  and  only  begged  her  not  to  exert  herself 
too  much,  as  she  carefully  drew  the  wraps  about  her. 

Rachel  welcomed  the  suggestions  of  Miriam ;  and 
soon  the  many  servants  of  that  large  household  were 
abroad  seeking  for  information,  or  seeking  those  who 
could  seek  it  better  than  themselves. 

Toward  the  close  of  the  day  Seti  appeared  to  report  that 
Sextus  Flaccus  had  been  found  to  have  been  in  the  city 
all  the  previous  night,  and  that,  apparently,  no  soldiers 
had  been  absent  from  their  quarters.  But  Draco  had 
disappeared  from  early  in  the  evening,  and  had  been 
traced  to  Mareotis — this  seemed  to  Rachel  a  particle  of 
light.  No  reports  as  yet  from  the  students  watching  the 
gates  and  harbors,  or  from  those  seeking  traces  within 
the  city.  Rachel  told  Seti  of  the  supplementary  meas- 
ures she  had  taken  for  getting  information  within  the 
city,  but  she  said  nothing  of  the  peddler  and  his  expedi- 
tion. I  hardly  know  why.  Perhaps  it  was  because  she 
thought  the  womanly  logic  of  the  movement  would  not 
commend  itself  to  a  philosopher. 


300  THE  SEARCH. 

The  next   morning    Miriam  was  still   better — indeed 
almost  seemed  to  forget  in  her  new  object  of  absorbing 
interest  that  she  was  an  invalid  at  all.     As  yet  the  serv- 
ants  had   made   no   report ;    having    come    in   late   the 
night   before  and   gone  out  again   before   light   in   the 
morning.     Inactive  waiting  is  an  uneasy  business  at  the 
best ;  so  Rachel  determined  to  have  as  little  of  it  as  jws- 
sible.     She  sent  off  a  servant  with  a  basket  of  provisions 
to  the  house  of  the  peddler  with  instructions  to  learn  at 
what  hour  he  left  the  city  and  in  what  sort  of  craft ;  for 
there  was  almost  as  much  difference  then  as  now  in  the 
speed  of  vessels.     She  found  that  the  active  man,  within 
an  hour  from  the  time  he  left  her,  had  managed  to  pro- 
vide himself  with  a  more  attractive  pack  than   he  had 
ever  before  carried,  and  to  get  on  board  a  well-appointed 
merchant  vessel  just  starting  southward  with  a  fair  wind 
and    not    a    few   oars.      This   was   some   comfort.      She 
prayed   that  the  wind    might  follow  fast,  and   that  the 
rowers  might  be  able  and  willing  at  their  toil. 

In  the  course  of  the  day  another  small  comfort  (snudl 
and  transient  like  the  scarcely  perceptible  shade  of  green- 
ness that  sometimes  comes  even  in  the  heart  of  winter, 
for  a  few  hours,  to  some  sunny  nook  and  then  retreats  as 
fast  as  it  came)  came  with  some  scraps  of  information 
brought  in  by  the  servants.  They  reported  that  the  com- 
pany of  soldiers  had  been  noticed  at  different  points  in 
the  Egyptian  quarter  ;  and,  on  comparing  these  points, 
the  women  saw  that  they  meant  a  movement  toward  the 
gate  of  the  Moon.  This  was  a  much-needed  encourage- 
ment to  Seti,  who  came  in  the  evening  to  say  that  the 
students  had  as  yet  been  able  to  draw  no  information 
from  the  people  whatever.     They  seefned   to  regard  all 


THE   SEARCH.  301 

the  inquiries  with  suspicion,  as  if  they  meant  some  Col- 
lege prank  against  which  their  best  refuge  was  silence. 
What  so  many  students  wanted  to  know  they  would  do 
well  to  conceal.  So  the  young  men  spoke  to  deaf  ears 
and  silent  tongues.  Still  they  would  not  discontinue 
their  inquiries.  They  hoped  that  all  their  ravens  would 
not  come  home  to  roost. 

The  next  day  added  considerably  to  the  stock  of  infor- 
mation. Several  street-boys  who  were  hanging  about  the 
gate  and  wharves  on  the  night  in  question  had  been  fer- 
reted out  in  their  various  dens  by  the  servants,  and  agreed 
that  a  company  of  soldiers  with  a  prisoner  passed  through 
the  gate  while  they  were  there,  and  took  boat  to  a 
larger  craft  lying  out  some  little  distance  in  the  lake.  On 
their  part  the  students  had  discovered  that  the  pleasure- 
galley  of  the  Flacci  had  been  absent  from  its  station  ever 
since  the  same  evening,  and  had  been  seen  by  a  waterman 
steering  toward  the  canal  and  the  Nile.  Rachel  Avas  now 
so  satisfied  that  her  first  movement  was  a  wise  one  that 
she  told  Seti  of  it.  He  was  glad  that  so  time-saving  a 
measure  had  been  adopted ;  and  returned  to  inform  the 
students  that  such  traces  had  been  discovered  that  they 
need  no  longer  continue  their  inquiries  in  the  city,  but 
should  hold  themselves  in  readiness  to  co-operate  in 
another  movement  that  might  be  necessary.  He  now  felt 
quite  sure  that  the  soldiers  employed  in  the  abduction 
were  dischai'ged  soldiers — men  who  from  age  and  other 
reasons  were  no  longer  in  active  service — of  whom  there 
were  not  a  few  in  the  city  quite  ready  to  lend  themselyes 
to  the  purposes  and  the  pay  of  such  a  man  as  Sextus 
Flaccus. 

Immersed  in  her  cares  for  Aleph,  Rachel   had  neg- 


302  THE   SEARCH. 

lected  till  to-day  to  inquire  about  Cimon  and  his  affairs. 
For  this  she  blamed  herself  roundly.  But  she  was  glad 
to  learn  that  her  father's  solicitor  had  found  Cimon's 
papers  very  complete  as  against  Malus,  had  formally  insti- 
tuted a  suit,  had  been  able  as  Cimon's  official  advocate  to 
procure  admittance  to  him  and  arrange  for  his  comfort 
till  his  trial  should  come  off,  that  the  chief  clerk  of  Malus, 
who  had  been  discharged  by  him  as  soon  as  he  learned 
how  liberal  of  business  information  he  had  been  to 
Cimon,  had  come  to  him  with  valuable  evidence.  Three 
suits  were  to  come  off  in  the  following  order — (1)  The 
suit  of  Malus  against  Shaphan  and  Nathan,  (2)  the  suit  of 
Malus  against  Cimon,  (3)  the  suit  of  Cimon  against  Ma- 
lus. Marcus  Piso  was  more  than  satisfied  with  this  order  ; 
for  he  felt  that  the  first  two  trials  would  throw  much 
damaging  light  on  the  character  and  operations  of  Malus 
and  prepare  the  way  for  the  success  of  Cimon's  suit 
against  him. 

''  But  then  those  Roman  courts  !  Who  could  guaran- 
tee their  equity !  Would  not  the  Flaccan  influence  be 
supreme  in  them  and  in  favor  of  the  supreme  criminal 
in  whose  misdeeds  it  had  long  participated  !  The  Most 
High  only  knows !  If  possible,  we  must  make  the  right 
of  the  case  so  plain  that  neither  court  nor  government 
can  go  against  it  without  the  whole  people  crying  shame 
on  them.  And  this  I  am  more  and  more  inclined  to 
think  can  be  done."  ...  So  encouraged  Marcus  Piso. 
At  the  same  time,  with  a  shadow  on  his  face,  he  admit- 
ted that  the  devil  was  strong. 

The  next  day  was  the  Sabbath.  The  family  of  Alex- 
ander were  very  strict  in  their  observance  of  the  day,  but 
not  so  unreasonably  strict  as  to  refuse  works  of  necessity 


THE   SEARCH.  303 

and  mercy.  Miriam  (now  wonderfully  imj^roved)  and 
Rachel  would  not  have  hesitated  to  plan  and  do,  to  any 
extent,  in  so  urgent  a  case  as  that  of  Aleph  if  they  could 
have  seen  opportunity.  But,  until  they  should  hear  from 
the  peddler,  what  more  could  be  done  ?  Certainly  nothing 
but  praying.  So  they  gave  themselves  wholly  to  this 
mif^hty  form  of  working.  The  God  of  Israel,  so  pitiful 
and  so  powerful,  and  who  had  said,  "  Call  upon  me  in 
the  day  of  trouble  and  I  will  deliver  thee,''  Avas  invoked 
that  day  with  an  energy  and  whole-heartedness  that 
seemed  bound  to  cross  all  the  spaces  and  make  its  way  to 
the  very  foothold  of  the  Throne.  Till  the  public  serv- 
ices at  the  Diapleuston,  the  women  were  scarcely  off  their 
knees  for  a  moment. 

At  the  synagogue,  to  her  surprise,  Rachel  found  Seti 
seated  where  Cimon  and  Aleph  had  been  placed  on  the 
last  Sabbath.  She  went  and  sat  down  by  him  for  a  few 
moments,  placing  her  hand  in  his  ;  and  then  went  to  her 
own  place.  The  selections  from  the  Law  and  the  Prophets 
by  her  uncle  Philo,  as  well  as  his  remarks  that  followed, 
seemed  to  her  to  have  a  most  positive  though  veiled  ref- 
erence to  the  case,  which  she  felt  was  by  this  time  weight- 
ing all  their  minds  with  its  certainties  and  uncertainties. 
She  felt  it  good  to  be  there.  There  was  something  sooth- 
ing and  supporting  in  the  sympathetic  atmosphere.  And 
so  she  lingered  after  the  conclusion  of  the  services. 

While  thus  lingering,  she  noticed  a  woman  of  the 
humbler  class  trying  to  make  her  way  somewhat  impa- 
tiently toward  her  through  the  slow-moving  crowd.  As 
soon  as  she  came  near  enough  the  woman  thrust  into  her 
hand  a  paper  rudely  folded  and  at  once  passed  on  with 
the  rest  of  the  retiring  congregation.     Rachel  opened  the 


304  THE   SEARCH. 

paper  at  once,  and  with  some  difficulty  deciphered  the 
following : 

'^  He  is  here.  They  are  trying  to  starve  him.  I  can 
prevent  that  for  a  little  ;  but  the  custodes  will  take  no 
decisive  step  till  they  have  had  my  promises  in  your 
behalf  confirmed  by  your  own  lips.^"* 

When  she  had  finished  reading  the  scrawl  she  found 
Seti  standing  by  her  side  and  drawing  her  arm  within 
his.  It  was  timely.  Unsupported  she  might  have  fallen. 
It  was  a  flash  of  light  that  she  had  longed  for,  but  it  had 
in  it  something  of  the  threat  and  terribleness  of  a  flash  of 
lightning.  It  revealed,  but  it  revealed  an  urgent  danger. 
Her  agitation  remained  voiceless  till  they  had  reached 
home  and  Seti  had  read  the  letter.  It  lifted  a  cloud  from 
his  brow.  Now  they  knew  that  Aleph  was  still  alive, 
knew  where  to  find  him,  could  make  some  reasonable  plan 
for  his  rescue.  He  congratulated  her.  Early  to-morrow 
they  would  go  up  the  river  in  the  galley  of  Alexander, 
well-equipped  with  resolute  men.  Perhaps  he  would  ask 
some  of  the  students  to  follow  at  a  distance  in  another 
galley.  They  might  not  be  needed ;  but  it  was  well  to 
overlap  emergencies  with  our  provisions.  At  all  events, 
the  young  men  would  be  gratified — and  they  deserved  to 
be.  He  had  never  thought  so  well  of  young  men  since  he 
was  a  young  man  himself.  Especially  of  Cornelius.  Such 
unselfish  enthusiasm  and  untiring  effort  in  behalf  of  a 
confessed  superior,  such  hearty  use  of  his  influence  and 
leadership  to  further  all  plans  in  aid  of  Aleph — why, 
they  spoke  almost  as  loudly  for  Kome  as  Tiberius  and 
the  Flacci  did  against  it ! 

The  clouds   on    the   horizon   had   begun    to   redden. 
Was  it  from  tlie  rising  or  the  setting  sun  ?     Neither  Seti 


THE   SEARCH.  305 

nor  Rachel  could  tell ;  for  they  did  not  know  the  east 
and  west  of  Providence.  It  was  indeed  something  to 
have  found  that  Aleph  was  still  living  (a  fact  which  they 
had  compelled  themselves  to  assume,  but  which  phantoms 
with  mocking  faces  and  whispering  voices  were  all  the 
while  challenging  at  both  ears)  ;  also  that  he  was  at  the 
Setian  palace.  Now  they  could  localize  and  focalize  their 
exertions  in  his  behalf.  This  was  at  first  a  very  sensible 
relief.  But,  in  finding  these  facts,  they  had  also  found 
that  their  friend  was  in  the  hands  of  a  body  of  despera- 
does who  were  seeking  his  life.  Might  they  not  succeed 
before  the  swiftest  help  could  reach  him  ?  Perhaps  they 
had  succeeded  already.  That  single  poor  peddler  was  a 
mighty  thin  partition  between  life  and  death.  So  the 
clouds  which  had  thinned  away  somewhat  soon  thickened 
up  again  into  the  old  blackness.  Through  the  live-long 
night  the  waves  of  hope  and  fear  alternately  beat  on  the 
vexed  strands  whose  names  were  Seti  and  Rachel. 

The  wear  and  tear  of  such  times  are  very  great  on 
some  people.  A  single  night  has  been  known  to  bow  a 
form  as  stately  as  Seti's — to  blanch  tresses  as  young  and 
beautiful  as  Rachers.  But  let  us  hoj)e  the  best  for  both 
sufferers.  One  of  them  is  strong  in  youth,  the  other  is 
strong  in  age.  Neither  will  be  easily  overborne.  Neither 
is  a  stretch  of  low-lying  sands,  easily  loosened  and  carried 
out  to  sea  in  rough  weather.  Both  are  highlands, 
fronted  and  ribbed  with  rocks  for  the  sea  to  dash  and 
roar  upon — rocky  convictions  of  the  supernatural,  rocky 
faith  in  a  divine  government,  rocky  7neus  conscia  recti. 
In  this  I  find  some  comfort.  At  the  same  time  I  know 
that  even  rock-bound  coasts  sometimes  suffer  heavily  in  a 
wild  time.     Have  I  not  walked  on  such  a  coast  the  day 


306  THE   SEARCH. 

after  the  storm  has  been  hurling  its  battalions  upon  it 
and  found  it  ragged  and  torn  and  strewn  with  ruins— the 
battle-field  of  yesterday  ?  And  I  am  far  from  saying  but 
that  this  may  be  just  the  condition  in  which  the  sore 
winds  and  waves  of  their  trial  may  leave  Seti  and  Rachel. 
We  must  be  prepared  for  the  worst  while  we  hope  the 
best.  Should  the  worst  come,  no  heart  will  be  sorer  than 
mine. 


XIV. 
THE    ARGONAUTS. 

f^iTiel  Si  Tu  KiifiovTi  avanivdeiv  6e6(  9 

— Anon, 
Does  God  love  to  help  the  struggling  good  man 


1.  How  best  to  do  it. 

2.  Song  for  signal. 

3.  Thie  golden  fleece  and  dragon. 

4.  Hair=breadtti ? 

5.  E^ven  as  He. 


XIV. 

THE  ARGONAUTS. 

EARLY  the  next  morning  the  pinnace  of  Alexander 
was  moving  toward  the  Nile  as  fast  as  eight  strong 
oarsmen  and  a  fair  breeze  could  carry  it.  Under  a  silken 
awning  in  the  stern  sat  Seti  and  Rachel :  while  at  some 
distance  a  few  stout  male  servants  in  holiday  attire  leaned 
over  the  bulwarks,  watching  the  water  ripple  away  from 
the  shapely  sides,  listening  to  the  low  monotonous  stroke- 
song  of  the  rowers  as  they  rhythmically  struck  the  waters, 
and  occasionally  talking  together  in  a  low  tone. 

Seemingly  it  was  a  holiday  excursion— nothing  more. 
The  whole  aspect  of  things  on  board  that  delicate  butter- 
fly of  a  vessel,  including  the  lovely  maiden  in  her  rich 
robes,  with  her  harp  standing  by  her  side,  was  that  of  a 
pleasure  party.  No  one  looking  from  shore  or  passing 
vessel  would  have  thought  that  such  a  festival  barge  with 
its  luxurious  and  daintv  furnishings  and  daintier  mis- 
tress  was  heavily  weighted  with  anxious  thoughts  of  peril 
and  conflict. 

To  Rachel,  her  surroundings,  from  the  cloudless  sky 
and  wooing  breeze  to  the  costly  and  delicate  sea-chariot 
on  which  she  was  borne,  seemed  almost  so  many  mocker- 
ies.    Her  real  sky  was  full  of  clouds,  her  real  wind  was 


310  THE   A  RG  OKA  UTS. 

the  breath  of  storms,  and  the  real  galley  on  which  her 
spirit  was  sailing  was  a  war  ship  full  of  swords  and  spears 
and  faces  threatening  battle.  She  found  it  very  hard  to 
cover  her  anxieties  with  the  serene  face  and  manner  which 
she  felt  the  situation  demanded.  So  she  kept  the  serv- 
ants as  far  from  her  as  possible,  that  their  prying  eyes 
and  ears  might  not  play  too  successfully  on  herself  and 

Seti. 

They  were  hardly  well  afloat  before  Seti  began  to  un- 
fold his  plan  of  proceeding. 

"It  is  very  important,''  said  he,  "that  we  implicate 
the  Flacci,  both  father  and  son,  as  little  as  possible  in 
this  affair.  The  father,  bad  as  he  is,  probably  has  noth- 
ing to  do  with  the  abduction ;  and  so  ought  not  to  suffer 
on  account  of  it.  The  guilty  party  is  Sextus ;  who,  hav- 
ing access  to  his  father's  official  seal  and  blank  forms, 
forged  the  warrant  for  the  arrest,  and  then  employed 
some  dissolute  companions  of  his  among  the  discharged 
Roman  soldiers  to  execute  the  warrant.  These  having 
no  duties  in  the  city  have  not  yet  returned,  and  so  the 
watch  of  the  students  for  them  has  been  in  vain.  Sextus 
is  the  great  criminal  in  the  case  and  deserves  exposure. 
But,  if  we  so  manage  the  matter  as  to  expose  him  both  to 
his  mortified  father  and  the  public,  we  shall  be  sure  so  to 
exasperate  both  of  them  as  to  throw  their  whole  influence, 
under  one  pretext  or  another,  against  us  in  the  impend- 
ing suit  against  Mains.  And  that  would  be  a  very  seri- 
ous matter.  So  we  must  try  to  rescue  Aleph  as  quietly 
as  possible — in  some  way  that  does  not  direct  public  sus- 
picion toward  the  Flacci  at  all.  If  we  should  appear  be- 
fore the  castle  of  the  governor  with  a  sufficient  force  to 
back  us,  and  demand  the  prisoner,  the  whole  affair  would 


THE   ARGONAUTS.  311 

at  once  go  abroad  to  the  four  winds,  and  cry  Flaccus  in 
every  ear  from  Pharos  to  the  Cataracts :  besides,  the  gar- 
rison would  probably  deny  having  the  prisoner,  and  con- 
trive some  way  of  disposing  of  him  before  we  could  effect 
an  entrance.  So  the  best  way  for  us  is  to  persuade  the 
custodes  to  give  Alepli  the  means  of  making  his  own  es- 
cape ;  and  we  can  be  near  to  receive  him  and  carry  him 
quietly  back  to  the  city — saying  nothing  as  to  where  he 
was  found  and  how  rescued.  If  this  plan  fails  we  must, 
of  course,  resort  to  rougher  methods." 

*'Do  you  think,"  inquired  the  maiden,  "that  Aleph 
would  have  submitted  so  quietly  to  the  arrest  had  he  not 
supposed  it  made  by  the  proper  authorities?" 

*'  Certainly  not.  He  yielded  to  what  he  supposed  to 
be  the  government  of  the  country  in  which  for  the  time 
being  he  was  living." 

' '  In  that  case,  if  he  were  assured  that  the  arrest  was 
pronounced  unwarranted  by  the  governor,  and  that  he 
was  expressly  allowed  to  free  himself  by  any  means, 
would  he  not  be  likely  to  make  great  efforts  to  free  him- 
self?" 

"  Doubtless,  if  opportunity  could  be  found.  But 
how  is  he  to  break  down  an  iron  door  with  his  hands,  or, 
with  his  hands  dig  through  massive  stone  walls  settled  to- 
gether and  cemented  by  ages?  I  know  that  dungeon 
well.  It  is  the  strongest  in  all  Egypt.  Supreme  strength 
and  courage  must  have  opportunity.  Genius  must  have 
some  capital  of  favorable  circumstance  on  which  to  work. 
Even  heroes  must  have  ground  on  which  to  stand,  and 
scope  for  their  arms.  No,  I  know  the  place  too  well  to 
think  that  our  young  friend,  full  of  resources  as  he  is, 
can  do  anything  to  help  himself  till  he  is  at  least  outside 


312  THE   ARGONAUTS. 

of  the  dungeon,  or  till  some  fitting  tools  have  been  intro- 
duced into  it." 

*'  I  knew  the  castle  belonged  to  your  ancestors,  and  is 
rightfully  yours ;  but  I  did  not  suppose  that  you  knew 
anything  about  the  interior.^' 

"  See  here!  "  said  the  Egyptian,  as  he  drew  from  the 
folds  of  his  robe  a  parchment  discolored  by  age,  and  un- 
rolled it  before  her.  "  Here  is  a  plan  of  the  whole 
structure,  cellars  and  dungeon  included.  This  has  come 
down  to  me  through  many  generations,  together  with  a 
written  description  of  every  part  of  the  structure ;  and, 
though  1  have  never  set  foot  in  it,  I  think  I  could  find 
my  way  about  it  without  the  least  difficulty.  There  has 
always  lingered  in  the  family  a  vague  faith,  be  it  super- 
stition or  not,  that  this  noblest  of  the  ancient  Egyptian 
palaces  was  destined  to  come  back  to  us  some  day ;  and  so 
the  eldest  in  our  line  has  always  made  it  a  point  to  know 
as  much  about  the  structure  as  if  he  were  in  actual  pos- 
session." 

"  Explain  the  plan  to  me,  my  dear  grandfather.  It 
may  somehow  help  us  in  what  we  have  to  do.  I,  too, 
would  like  to  be  able  to  thread  my  way  alone  over  the 
whole." 

*' Heaven  {yoiir  Heaven)  forbid  that  you  shall  have 
need  to  do  so.  Still,  we  have  leisure  for  an  explanation, 
at  least  in  part ;  and  it  will  be  in  the  way  of  our  family 
custom.  This  line  (pointing)  represents  the  high  and 
massive  stone  wall  that  surrounds  the  whole  palace,  to- 
gether with  extensive  grounds  in  the  rear.  There  are 
three  gates  to  this  all  surrounding  wall — one  in  front, 
opening  on  a  fiight  of  steps  to  the  river  by  which  the 
master  and  his  friends  come  and  go;    the    others   far 


THE   ARGONAUTS.  313 

back  on  the  north  and  south  sides  and  chiefly  used 
by  servants  for  communicating  with  the  little  ham- 
lets that  lie,  one  above  and  the  other  below  the  pal- 
ace. On  the  river  side  of  the  inclosure  rises  the  quad- 
rangle of  the  palace.  The  front  and  two  connected  sides 
contain  the  state  and  family  apartments :  the  rear  is  given 
up  to  servants  and  the  various  offices  belonging  to  them. 
Of  course  the  soldiers  are  quartered  in  this  last.  We  will 
only  study  this  part  now.  It  is  of  only  a  single  story 
above  ground.  Right  here  in  the  middle  is  a  large  room 
where  doubtless  the  soldiers  eat  and  drink :  to  the  right 
and  left  of  it  are  their  lodging  rooms  and  the  kitchens. 
Directly  under  this  common  and  mess  room  is  the  single 
dungeon  of  the  castle,  connected  by  a  flight  of  steps  with 
the  mess  room,  and  also  by  another  flight  through  a 
heavy  iron  door  with  the  rear  grounds  of  the  castle.  One 
can  reach  the  dungeon  only  through  the  iron  door  or  by 
descending  from  the  common  mess  room.  The  wine  and 
provision  cellars  are  to  the  right  and  left  of  the  dungeon, 
and  a  narrow  passage  runs  before  the  whole. ^' 

"Has  the  dungeon  any  light  and  ventilation?^'  in- 
quired Rachel  anxiously. 

*^  Only  through  the  narrow  grated  opening  in  the  wall 
by  which  food  can  be  introduced  without  opening  the 
door ;  and  the  narrow  passage  before  all  the  vaults  is  only 
dimly  lighted  by  a  barred  opening  near  the  ceiling  at 
either  end." 

"  Would  Aleph  have  light  enough  to  read  a  note  or 
this  plan  of  yours?  " 

"It  may  be.  Such  eyes  as  his  can  do  what  mine 
could  not.  I  have  sometimes  thought  that  they  furnished 
their  own  light.     But  whoever  could  put  a  note  through 


314  THE  ARGONAUTS. 

tluit    grate   could   introduce    a   narrow  lamp   or   taper 

also." 

''If  a  pointed  iron  bar  could  be  secretly  introduced 
by  the  custodes  through  the  grate,  would  Aleph  be  able 
to  pry  open  the  door?^' 

"  Impossible — at  least  without  making  so  much  noise 
as  to  rouse  the  soldiers." 

"Perhaps  they  are  revellers,"  she  said  reflectively, 
"and,  having  free  access  to  the  wine  cellars,  have  fre- 
quent carousals  and  even  stupid  drunkenness." 

"Very  likely;  almost  certainly,"  Seti  exclaimed. 
"They  are  the  boon  companions  of  Sextus;  and,  like 
him,  will  not  miss  an  opportunity  of  indulgence.  If  we 
can  only  gain  over  the  custodes,  we  might  so  drug  their 
wine  as  to  stupefy  their  drunkenness  still  more,  so  that 
loud  noises  would  not  rouse  them.  This  deserves  to  be 
thought  of ;  and,  fortunately,  I  happen  to  have  with  me 
for  another  purpose  a  drug  which  I  think  will  answer. 
But  we  must  not  depend  on  this  plan  alone.  If  one  ex- 
pedient should  fail,  we  must  have  another  to  fall  back 
upon." 

"And  what  is  that?" 

"We  must  persuade  the  custodes  to  get  possession 
of  the  key  of  the  dungeon.  This  ought  not  to  be 
impossible,  if  the  soldiers  have  a  drunken  carouse 
every  night,  as  seems  to  me  very  likely.  But  we  can- 
not be  very  specific  in  our  plans  till  we  have  seen  the 
peddler  and  custodes,  and  know  exactly  what  the  situa- 
tion is." 

Rachel  said  nothing  more,  but  pored  over  the  plan  of 
the  palace.  At  length  she  drew  from  a  small  ivory  box 
by  her  side  an  ink  horn  and  papyrus,  and  proceeded  to 


THE   ARGONAUTS.  315 

make  a  fair  copy  of  the  plan — adding  some  jottings  of 
explanation  as  Seti  had  given  them.  She  then  put  both 
original  and  copy  in  his  hands.  He  compared  the  two, 
nodded,  and  looked  at  her  inquiringly. 

"  I  mean,  if  it  is  possible,  to  get  this  to  him  with  the 
iron  bar.^' 

He  silently  returned  the  copy. 

Meanwhile  the  pinnace  had  been  steadily  pressing  on 
its  way.  It  passed  through  the  canal,  it  turned  up  the 
Nile,  it  went  sweeping  by  crocodile  and  hippopotamus 
and  ibis  sporting  in  the  water  or  sunning  by  the  banks, 
it  met  corn  ship,  and  Roman  galley,  and  Nubian  dory, 
and  skin-raft  loaded  with  brick  and  stone,  and,  occasion- 
ally, a  pleasure  barge  freighted  to  overflowing  with  the 
laughter  and  song  of  the  young  and  gay.  The  peasants 
on  the  banks  for  a  moment  stopped  work  at  their  trench- 
ing and  water  wheels  to  gaze  at  the  beautiful  vessel,  the 
Nautilus  of  the  Nile,  and  perchance  to  envy  those  who 
reclined  under  its  snowy  wings  and  silken  canopy.  Ah, 
little  did  they  know  what  anxieties  were  aching  away  at 
the  heart  of  all  that  beauty  and  costliness !  The  breeze 
toyed  with  the  sails,  the  waters  rippled  and  gleamed  and 
laughed  away  from  the  decorated  prow,  the  oars  rose  and 
sank  in  a  water- song  of  their  own  that  kept  time  with  the 
low  chant  of  the  rowers — there  was  music  of  all  sorts  fil- 
tering through  the  dreamy  air — but  under  that  awning 
of  silk  and  purple  there  was  only  the  music  of  prayer 
and,  it  may  be,  of  some  hope  that  the  Most  High  would 
not  allow  the  wicked  to  triumph.  But  prayer  was  the 
chief  thing.  Much  silent  planning  and  resolving  was 
done  during  the  latter  part  of  the  voyage,  but  there  was 
more  silent  praying  than  either. 


316  THE   ARGONAUTS. 

"  Grandfather,  what  a  comfort  and  help  it  is  to 
pray !  "  as  she  turned  toward  Seti  and  hiid  her  hand  on 
his  arm. 

"I  have  found  it  out,  my  child,  though  not  as  soon 
as  I  could  wish.  But  the  knowledge  will  remain. 
Straits  crowd  one  toward  the  Unseen  Helper." 

And  now  the  castle  was  in  full  view.  On  a  promon- 
tory that  curved  out  boldly  into  the  river,  skirted  both 
above  and  below  by  a  thick  grove  of  mingled  mimosas, 
acacias,  sycamores,  and  palms,  each  of  which  groves 
screened  a  little  bay  and  hamlet,  stood  a  quadrangular 
fortress  with  its  defiant  encompassing  wall.  Kachel  drew 
her  harp  toward  her  and  began  to  play — at  first  softly  and 
slowly,  and  then  with  a  stronger  and  more  rapid  hand. 
As  the  pinnace  approached  the  castle  she  began  to  accom- 
pany the  instrument  with  her  voice :  and,  when  fully  in 
front,  the  voice  surged  up  over  the  promontory  in  melo- 
dious billows  and  seemed  to  envelop  it  in  fioods  of  exult- 
ant song,  every  word  of  which  was  rendered  with  wonder- 
ful distinctness.  It  was  a  chant.  It  was  a  chant  in  the 
original  tongue  of  these  words  from  the  Book  of  Daniel. 
"  Now  when  he  came  to  the  den  he  cried  with  a  lamenta- 
ble voice  unto  Daniel :  and  the  king  spake  and  said  to 
Daniel,  *  0  Daniel,  servant  of  the  living  God,  is  thy  God 
whom  thou  servest  continually  able  to  deliver  thee  from 
the  lions?  "^ 

Again  and  again  the  words  rose  and  beat  their  deli- 
cious music  against  the  castle  like  an  invading  army. 
Seti  narrowly  watched  the  premises  as  the  pinnace  glided 
by,  but  saw  no  sign  of  life.  But  as  soon  as  they  had  gone 
a  little  farther,  rounded  the  promontory,  and  then  silently 
veered  into  the  sheltered  nook  by  the  hamlet,  they  saw 


THE  ARGONAUTS.  317 

the  peddler  on  the  wharf  with  his  professional  pack  on  his 
back. 

When  the  vessel  was  fairly  moored,  the  man  begged  to 
be  allowed  to  come  on  board  and  exhibit  his  goods,  which 
he  protested  were  the  finest  and  cheapest  to  be  found  out- 
side of  Alexandria.  The  beautiful  lady  would  certainly 
find  something  she  would  like  among  his  various  stores. 
iji  short,  his  eloquence  was  so  great  that  he  was  at  length 
allowed  to  come  on  board  and  ostentatiously  spread  out 
his  wares  about  Rachel  and  Seti. 

**Say  that  he  is  living,"  she  almost  gasped,  though 
scarcely  above  a  murmur. 

"  He  is,  my  lady." 

**  Say  that  food  has  been  given  him  daily." 

*'At  least  since  I. came." 

*'Now  tell  us,^'  she  said,  with  a  firmer  but  still  low 
voice,  "while  you  slowly  display  your  goods,  piece  by 
piece,  what  you  have  done — in  as  few  words  as  possible." 

"  Yes,  my  lady.  I  landed  at  this  hamlet,  and  went 
up  at  once  to  the  south  gate  of  the  palace  grounds.  Here 
I  found  a  soldier  on  guard ;  but,  on  making  him  a  small 
present,  he  allowed  me  to  enter  and  seek  my  old  acquaint- 
ances, the  custodes.  Fortunately  I  found  them  by  them- 
selves in  an  out-house — the  old  Egyptian  and  his  much 
younger  Jewish  wife ;  the  latter  much  the  leading  2^art- 
ner,  as  I  had  long  known.  I  warmly  saluted  them  as  old 
friends,  hoped  they  had  not  forgotten  Ezra,  assured  them 
that  I  had  never  been  so  well  prepared  to  give  them  a 
good  trade  as  now ;  and  proceeded  to  unpack  and  display 
my  goods  despite  their  protestations  that  they  did  not 
want  anything,  could  not  afi'ord  to  buy  anything,  and 
such  like  nonsense.     But  I  saw  that  their  eyes  followed 


318  THE   ARGONAUTS. 

me  as  I  spread  out  article  after  article,  and  that  they  lis- 
tened well  as  I  mentioned  prices  absurdly  low. 

''  *  You  must  have  stolen  these  things/  exclaimed  the 
Jewess.      'Alas,    that   a   son   of   Abraham    should   turn 

thief ! ' 

"'I  hardly  wonder/  said  I,  'that  you  suspect  my 
honesty ;  for,  as  you  so  plainly  see,  these  goods  are  worth 
many  times  what  I  ask  for  them.  How  then  does  it 
happen  that  I  can  honestly  offer  them  so  low?  I  will  tell 
you.  I  have  a  very  liberal  friend — no  less  a  person  than 
the  lady  Rachel,  daughter  of  the  great  banker  Alexander; 
and  she  pities  me  and  other  poor  children  of  our  people ; 
and  it  is  she  who  makes  it  possible  for  me  to  let  you  have 
the  goods  at  so  low  a  figure.  Our  father  Abraham  knows 
that  I  could  not  do  it  otherwise.^ 

"As  soon  as  I  mentioned  your  name,  I  saw  at  once  that 
I  had  touched  the  right  chord.  I  have  since  found  that 
she  came  from  Alexandria,  where  her  family  in  time  of 
sickness  and  poverty  had  received  much  help  from  your 
family.  '  The  God  of  our  fathers  bless  the  pitiful  and 
gracious  lady,'  she  exclaimed.  '  Many  a  time  has  she 
helped  me  and  mine.'' 

"  'And  is  she  not  the  granddaughter  of  Seti — the  high- 
priest  and  head  of  my  race? '  inquired  the  Egyptian  hus- 
band. 

"  '  To  be  sure  she  is,'  I  exclaimed,  '  the  worthy  child 
of  both  Egypt  and  Israel — and  I  will  tell  you  a  secret  (I 
sank  my  voice  very  low  and  looked  cautiously  about).  I 
can  tell  you  of  a  way  in  which  you  can  greatly  oblige 
these  great  friends  of  ours  and  get  as  many  of  these 
goods  as  you  would  like  for  just  nothing — absolutely 
nothing.' 


THE   ARGONAUTS.  319 

**  Their  eyes  02)eued  wider  and  began  to  glisten.  They 
drew  themselves  closer  to  me. 

'' '  Look  you/  said  I,  *  there  has  been  in  the  dungeon 
of  this  castle  for  the  last  few  days  a  young  man  who  is  a 
special  friend  of  Seti  and  Alexander.  He  was  arrested 
without  right,  and  spirited  away  from  Alexandria  in  the 
night,  and  brought  here  by  a  company  of  men  appearing 
as  Roman  soldiers." 

"  Thrown  off  her  guard,  the  Jewess  exclaimed,  *  How 
did  you  come  to  know  this?" 

"  '  No  matter,'  said  I,  '  it  is  enough  that  I  do  know 
it ;  and  know  further  that  if  you  would  oblige  Seti  and 
Alexander,  who  have  such  claims  on  you,  as  well  as  won- 
derfully advantage  yourselves,  you  have  now  an  opportu- 
nity. If  you  will  help  them  in  this  matter,  they  can  and 
will  do  great  things  for  you.  It  is  the  opportunity  of  a 
life-time." 

"  '  But  what  can  we  do?  '  exclaimed  both  custodes  at 
once. 

** '  I  will  tell  you.  But  first  tell  me  whether  you  have 
seen  that  goodly  young  man  with  your  own  eyes,  and 
know  him  to  have  been  safe  and  sound  when  he  was  put 
into  the  dungeon.' 

"  '  So  he  seemed  by  the  torch -light,'  said  the  Jewess. 
^A  goodly  young  man,  you  may  well  say.  I  never  saw 
one  half  so  goodly.  He  stood  like  a  king  among  his 
slaves,  with  his  great  staff  for  a  sceptre.  The  soldiers 
seemed  almost  as  much  afraid  of  his  eye  as  of  his  staff, 
and  plainly  felt  relieved  when  the  key  was  turned  upon 
him.' 

'''Has  he  had  food  and  drink  since  then?'  I 
asked. 


320  THE   ARGONAUTS. 

*'  They  hesitated ;  tiiid  the  woman  looked  in  a  troubled 
way  at  her  husband. 

"  '  Now,  by  all  the  patriarchs/  cried  I  in  great  excite- 
ment, '  have  they  been  starving  this  friend  of  Seti  and 
Alexander  all  these  days,  and  you  doing  nothing  to  help 
him?^ 

'**Not  so/  she  hastened  to  exclaim.  'We  thought 
we  could  not  let  the  young  man  perish ;  and  as  soon  as 
we  found  out  that  no  food  of  any  kind  was  being  given 
him  we  managed  to  introduce  some  secretly  through  a 
grated  opening  in  the  wall  originally  made  for  tluit  pur- 
pose. But  it  has  been  at  the  risk  of  our  lives.  We  can- 
not continue.     If  we  should  be  discovered  he  would  kill 


us/ 


a  i 


Whom  do  you  mean  by  "  he  "? '  I  asked. 

"  '  The  leader  among  the  soldiers.' 

"  '  What  sort  of  a  man  is  he?' 

*'  'A  great,  bull  necked,  big  fisted  man ;  with  fierce  and 
cruel  and  blood  shot  eyes,  and  cheeks  somewhat  bruised 
and  swollen.  I  have  heard  him  called  Draco.  This  man 
carries  the  key  of  the  dungeon  at  his  girdle  day  and 
night.  He  treats  us  like  dogs,  and  would  kill  us  out- 
right in  his  terrible  passion  should  he  fiud  us  out.  No, 
we  cannot  afford  to  take  such  a  risk  for  a  single  day 
longer.  We  were  worrying  over  the  matter  when  you 
came  up.' 

"'Look  here,  woman!'  said  I  fiercely,  'if  you  let 
this  Hebrew  (for  he  is  of  our  faith)  perish,  you  will  have 
to  account  for  it  to  both  man  and  God ;  but,  if  you  will 
give  him  ample  food  and  drink  daily  and  help  us  to  free 
him,  the  lady  Rachel  promises  to  reward  you  richly — be- 
yond what  you  could  dream.     If  there  is  risk  in  the  mat- 


THE    ARGONAUTS.  321 

tor  there  is  enough  pay  in  it,  too,  to  make  it  well  worth 
your  while  to  take  the  risk.  But  I  do  not  see  that  you 
need  to  run  any  considerable  risk.  AVhere  are  these  men 
in  the  night  ?  ' 

"  *  They  always  pass  the  best  part  of  the  night  in  a 
drunken  carouse.     They  have  found  the  wine  cellar.' 

"  ^And,  I  dare  say,  by  midnight  they  are  lying  about 
the  floor  of  the  mess  room  dead  drunk  and  stupid  as 
logs. ' 

"  '  It  may  be. ' 

"  'And  what  is  to  hinder  you  from  taking  that  time  for 
putting  food,  and  whatever  else  his  friends  may  wish 
(this  note  for  example),  within  reach  of  the  prisoner? 
The  risk  must  be  very  small.  Indeed  I  am  not  sure  but 
that  you  might  safely  steal  in  among  the  besotted  and 
snoring  brutes,  cut  off  the  key  from  Draco's  belt,  and 
open  the  door  of  the  dungeon.  The  lady  Rachel  would 
enrich  you  for  life.' 

"The  woman  threw  up  her  hands  in  dismay.  'I 
coidd  not  do  it.  The  very  idea  of  such  a  thing  almost 
frightens  me  to  death.  Besides,  how  do  I  know  that  the 
daughter  of  Alexander  will  fulfill  all  your  fine  promises. 
You  always  did  talk  larger  than  the  truth.  You  never 
spare  fine  talking  in  the  way  of  business.' 

''  I  confess  this  awfully  embarrassed  me.  My  habit  in 
dealing  with  my  customers  has  been  somewhat  of  the  or- 
luimental  and  poetical  sort.  And  now  at  last  it  had 
brought  me  into  difficulty.  AVhat  should  I  do?  I 
silently  promised  myself  that  I  would  mend  my  ways.  I 
protested  to  the  woman  by  all  things  sacred  that  I  did 
not  misrepresent  you.  The  miserable  woman  declared 
she  would  not  believe  me.     Nothing  short  of  your  own 


/ 

322  THE   ABGONAUTS. 

lips  should  satisfy  her.  If  you  would  come  and  with 
your  own  mouth  repeat  my  promises  they  would  try  to  do 
what  they  could.  But  she  shook  like  one  in  a  palsy  when 
she  said  it. 

"  Seeing  that  my  reputation  was  too  much  for  me,  sin- 
ner that  I  am ;  and  that  nothing  better  could  be  done,  I 
said,  '  You  are  unreasonable;  but  it  shall  be  as  you  say. 
The  lady  will  come  and  confirm  all  I  have  said.  But 
meanwhile  (here  I  drew  out  my  bag  of  gold  pieces)  this  is 
what  she  has  given  me  to  reward  those  who  take  risks  in 
her  service;  and  if  you  will  daily  put  into  the  grated 
opening  plenty  of  food  and  drink,  together  with  whatever 
else  I  may  give  you,  and  will  daily  come  to  me  in  the  up- 
per hamlet  where  you  are  in  the  habit  of  going  for  pro- 
visions, and  will  swear  that  you  have  done  so  by  the 
beards  of  our  fathers  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob,  I  will, 
each  time,  give  you  two  gold  pieces.  And  I  will  begin 
now ;  for  I  want  you  to  put  this  note  into  the  dungeon 
this  very  day.  Swear  to  me  that  you  will  do  it.'  And 
I  held  up  two  shining  pieces  in  the  sun. 

"  Her  eyes  snapped.  So  did  mine — the  gold  looked  so 
dazzling  and  lovely  in  the  golden  sun.  As  for  the  hus- 
band, he  sat  with  amazed  eyes  and  open  mouth,  but  said 
nothing.     Neither  of  them  had  seen  such  gold  before. 

"  The  woman  stretched  out  her  hand.  I  made  her 
swear,  gave  her  the  note  you  gave  me,  and  then  gave  her 
the  two  coins. 

"  Just  then  a  man  shouted  to  them  from  the  castle  in  a 
threatening  tone;  and  they  hurried  away  in  a  fright, 
while  I  gathered  up  my  wares  as  fast  as  I  could  and  went 
back  to  the  hamlet.  Here  I  scrawled  a  note  to  you,  gave 
it  to  my  son  whom  I  had  taken  the  precaution  to  take 


THE   ARGONAUTS.  323 

with  me,  aild  put  him  on  board  of  a  vessel  for  Alexandria 
just  then  passing.  Since  then  the  custode  has  been  to 
me  daily,  made  oath  that  she  has  fed  the  prisoner,  and 
received  her  gold  pieces.  She  reports  that  Draco  has 
gone  back  to  the  city  for  a  day  or  two ;  but  that  he  has 
left  a  substitute  who  wears  the  key  of  the  dungeon  at  his 
belt,  and  leads  off  every  night  in  the  drunken  debauch. 
I  expect  her  every  moment.  It  is  about  time  for  her  to 
make  her  daily  visit.  .  .  .  There  she  is  with  her  provision 
basket!     I  will  go  and  bring  her  on  board." 

Eachel  was  struck  with  the  air  of  the  humbly  dressed 
and  somewhat  bent  woman  whom  the  peddler  soon  brought 
up  to  her.  She  looked  the  picture  of  timidity  and  un- 
certainty— as  if  drawn  in  opposite  directions  by  powerful 
forces,  and  almost  torn  in  pieces  in  the  struggle  between 
them.  Her  nerves  were  all  on  the  wing.  One  could 
warrant  that  no  sound  sleep  had  come  to  her  for  many  a 
night.  She  staggered  rather  than  walked  uj)  to  where 
Rachel  was  sitting. 

Rachel  saluted  her  warmly;  with  her  own  hands 
placed  a  cushion  for  her  near  herself;  asked  her  name;  by 
degrees  drew  her  out  to  tell  of  her  former  life  in  Alexan- 
dria and  of  her  bits  of  contact  with  the  family  of  Alexan- 
der. How  long  had  she  lived  here?  Were  there  others 
of  "  our  faith  and  race  "  in  this  neighborhood?  Was  she 
holding  fast  to  the  God  of  Israel?  And  did  she  hear  and 
understand  the  chant  from  the  prophet  Daniel? 

Seti  sat  silently  by  and  listened  to  the  gentle,  sooth- 
ing tones  in  which,  without  any  airs  of  condescension 
and  patronage,  but  simply  as  woman  with  woman  and  be- 
liever with  believer,  the  princess  talked  witli  the  peasant, 
till  he  saw  the  discomposure  of  the  poor  woman  slowly 


324  THE  ARGONAUTS. 

give  way  to  the  winsome  ways  of  one  speaking  to  her  as 
from  her  own  level.  And  yet  what  a  contrast!  The 
fresh,  glorious  beauty  and  grace,  fittingly  arrayed,  of  the 
one  over  against  the  faded  features  and  crooked  form  and 
rough  garments  of  the  other !  Could  it  be  that  the  two 
were  of  the  same  race?  No  one  who  saw  Eachel  that  day 
could  doubt  that  she  at  least  thought  so,  and  knew  how 
to  make  her  lowly  sister  feel  the  same.  Said  Seti  to 
himself,  "  The  last  few  days  have  ripened  her  like  trop- 
ical suns.""  There  are  ways  in  which  the  great  may  put 
themselves  in  sympathy  and  fellowship  with  the  lowly 
without  putting  on  their  dress,  eating  their  food,  living 
in  their  cabins,  and  using  their  language. 

"And  this  is  my  grandfather,  Deborah,"'  at  length 
said  Rachel,  looking  toward  Seti,  "  who,  though  he  is 
high  priest  of  Egypt,  honors  the  God  of  our  fathers  and 
loves  our  people.  He  shall  be  witness  to  what  I  will  now 
say  to  you.  Our  merchant  friend  here  has  told  you  how 
much  interested  we  are  to  rescue  the  young  man  of  our 
faith  who  is  now  in  the  castle  dungeon.  But  Ezra  was 
not  able  to  tell  you,  as  I  do  now,  that  the  young  man  was 
not  imprisoned  by  the  government,  but  by  a  band  of  ruf- 
fians on  their  own  private  feud;  and  that  we  have  in  our 
hands  a  warrant  from  the  governor  to  deliver  him  from  his 
enemies  as  best  we  can.  But  there  are  reasons  why  we 
wish  to  do  it  as  quietly  as  possible.  Here  you  can  help  us. 
You  have  already  helped  us  by  keeping  our  friend  from 
starvation.  Now  we  want  you  to  help  us  still  further — 
in  fact,  to  help  us  free  him  this  very  night.  H  there  is 
any  risk  to  you  in  what  we  shall  now  propose,  we  will  re- 
ward you  accordingly.  AVe  will  do  for  you  all  that  our 
agent  the  merchant  has  promised.     We  will  make  it  un- 


THE    ARGONAUTS.  325 

necessary  for  you  to  be  a  servant  any  more.  If  you 
choose  you  shall  go  with  us  to  Alexandria,  and  live  at 
your  ease  for  the  rest  of  your  life.  You  know  that 
we  are  able  to  do  as  much  as  we  say.  Now,  grand- 
father, will  you  tell  Deborah  what  we  want  her  to 
do?'' 

"  Do  you  and  your  husband  draw  and  carry  the  wine 
every  night  to  the  soldiers.^  "  inquired  Seti. 

The  woman  answered  in  the  affirmative. 

He  went  on,  "  Put  this  powder  in  the  wine  skin 
from  which  you  draw.  It  will  not  hurt  the  taste  of  the 
wine,  but  the  drunkards  will  sleep  the  sooner  and  sounder. 
Doubtless  there  is  somewhere  on  the  grounds  a  large 
pointed  iron  bar:  is  it  not  so?  " 

She  replied  that  there  was  one  in  the  provision  cellar. 

'*  It  is  well.  In  the  course  of  the  day  contrive  to  in- 
troduce the  bar,  with  a  note  which  I  will  give  you  fast- 
ened to  it,  into  the  prison  through  the  grated  opening. 
Will  you  do  it?" 

She  bent  her  head  in  assent. 

One  other  thing — the  hardest  but  most  important  of 
all.  As  soon  as  the  mess  room  is  quiet  after  the  debauch, 
and  the  men  are  lying  stupid  with  drunkenness  and  drug, 
steal  in  on  tiptoe  and  cut  off  the  key  from  the  girdle  of 
the  captain,  and  unlock  the  dungeon  door,  if  the  young 
man  has  not  yet  succeeded  in  prying  it  open.  The  drug 
is  so  powerful  that  I  think  you  can  do  it  safely.  If  one 
should  happen  to  rouse,  he  would,  very  likely,  think  you 
had  come  to  bring  more  wine  and  relapse  into  his  stupor. 
When  the  young  man  is  free,  conduct  him  to  the  north 
gate,  which  I  know  you  have  the  key  of;  where  we  will 
meet  you  with  a  number  of  men  and  conduct  you  all  to 


32G  THE    ARGONAUTS. 

the  pinnace  which  by  that  time  will  be  near  the  north 
hamlet.     Will  you  do  this  also?" 

*'  Oh/'  the  woman  exclaimed  with  almost  an  air  of 
distraction,  "I  am  so  afraid.  Those  wicked,  frightful 
men — how  ca?i  I  go  in  among  them !  " 

Both  Seti  and  Rachel  talked  long  with  her;  plied  her 
with  arguments  and  promises ;  and  at  last  had  the  satis- 
faction of  seeing  her  more  composed  and  tirm,  and  of 
hearing  her  promise  that  she  would  do  as  they  wished. 

As  she  rose  to  go,  Rachel  grasped  her  hand  and  said, 
"  Now  be  brave  for  a  few  hours  and  your  fortune  is  made. 
Do  all  we  have  said — do  just  as  we  have  said.  Do  it  for 
the  sake  of  the  innocent,  do  it  for  Israel's  sake,  do  it  for 
our  sakes  who  have  some  claims  upon  you,  do  it  for  your 
own  sakes  for  whom  this  day  may  do  so  much. " 

As  the  woman  was  turning  away,  Seti  held  out  to  her 
a  vial  filled  with  a  colored  liquid.  ''As  evening  comes 
on  pour  this  into  a  cup  of  water  and  drink  it.  It  is  a 
cordial.  It  will  strengthen  and  steady  you  for  what  you 
have  to  do.  .  .  .  And  then,"  he  added  to  Rachel,  "  the 
note  and  plan  to  be  fastened  to  the  bar !  " 

She  at  once  wrote  thus:  "Tonight  we  expect  that 
the  guard  will  be  stupid  with  wine  and  drug.  When 
they  are  fully  quiet  after  their  debauch,  see  what  you  can 
do  toward  prying  open  your  door.  If  you  cannot  succeed, 
you  may  still  hope  that  the  door  will  be  unlocked  shortly 
from  without.  Make  your  way  out  of  the  castle  by 
means  of  the  inclosed  plan,  if  no  guide  apjiears;  and 
meet  your  friends  at  the  north  gate. — R." 

She  showed  this  to  Seti,  who  nodded  his  api^roval. 
Folding  her  copy  of  the  plan  into  the  note,  she  gave  it  to 
the  custode — charging  her  to  put  it  through  the  grate 


THE   ARGONAUTS.  327 

while  it  was  still  light  enough  to  read  the  note  and  to  see 
how  best  to  attack  the  door.  The  woman  departed  some 
gold  pieces  richer  than  she  came. 

The  peddler  gathered  up  his  wares,  repacked  them, 
and  went  forward  with  his  pack.  Late  in  the  day,  at  a 
signal  from  Seti,  the  boatmen  who  had  scattered  them- 
selves along  the  bank,  returned,  unmoored  the  vessel, 
pushed  out  silently  into  the  stream,  dropped  silently 
down  past  the  castle,  and  as  silently  warped  into  another 
sheltered  nook  very  like  that  they  had  just  left  and  about 
as  far  from  the  castle. 

Here  the  servants  spread  refreshments  for  Eachel  and 
her  grandfather :  and  then  a  larger  outspread  was  made 
at  the  other  end  of  the  pinnace  for  the  others.  While 
these  were  eating,  Seti  and  Rachel  went  down  among  them 
to  speak  a  few  kindly  words,  to  see  that  their  wants  were 
well  supplied,  and  to  ask  all  of  them,  save  two  or  three 
needed  to  stay  by  the  vessel,  to  be  ready  late  in  the  even- 
ing to  escort  them  in  a  short  walk  they  were  j^roposing  to 
take.  It  would  not  be  amiss  if  they  should  take  blud- 
geons or  other  arms  with  them :  they  would  find  a  plenty 
of  such  below.  Very  likely  arms  would  not  be  needed ; 
but  then  the  place  was  neither  Heaven  nor  the  Diapleus- 
ton.  Is  it  necessary  to  state  that  no  person  was  em- 
ployed on  Alexander's  barge  unless  he  was  a  Jew  of  his 
own  synagogue? 

How  should  they  spend  the  weary  hours  of  waiting 
before  it  would  be  time  to  set  out  for  the  gate?  Seti  did 
something  to  answer  this  question. 

As  soon  as  the  men  had  finished  eating,  he  stepped  to 
the  front  of  the  dais  with  a  roll  in  his  hand,  and  invited 
all  of  them  to  come  near  while  he  should  read  from  their 


328  THE    ARGONAUTS. 

Sacred  Writings.  He  then  proceeded  to  read  from  the 
Septuagint  the  93d  and  a  part  of  the  94th  Psalm.  It  was 
very  different  reading  from  that  artificial  sub  cantus 
heard  in  the  synagogues.  It  was  the  reading  of  a  prophet 
by  a  prophet,  of  a  poet  by  a  poet.  Such  a  natural, 
hearty,  sympathetic  rendering  of  the  great  thoughts — it 
seemed  as  if  the  royal  Psalmist,  in  the  full  glow  of  his 
inspiration,  was  rehearsing  his  own  words.  The  people 
stood  with  open  mouths  and  wondering  eyes  as  the  man 
of  three  generations — his  form  erect,  his  eyes  keen,  his 
hair  but  slightly  frosted,  his  teeth  perfect,  his  voice  firm 
and  resonant,  his  whole  bearing  that  of  one  who  defies 
decay — celebrated  in  grave  and  majestic  tones  the  glory 
of  the  One  God,  His  justice,  and  the  final  overthrow  of 
the  plans  of  the  wicked.  He  closed  by  reading  with  spe- 
cial slowness  and  emphasis  these  words,  ^^  Who  will  rise 
iq)  for  me  against  the  evil  doers — who  will  stand  iqj  for 
7ne  against  the  workers  of  iniquity  9  " 

Rolling  up  the  parchment,  he  looked  searchingly 
about  on  the  upturned  faces. 

"Friends,'' said  he,  "we  are  not  far  from  a  den  of 
evil-doers.  In  yonder  castle,  a  small  band  of  ruffians, 
without  warrant  from  the  authorities,  have  shut  up  in  a 
dungeon  the  young  man  who  stood  up  so  nobly  for  our 
faith  in  the  Diapleuston  a  few  days  ago.  We  are  here 
with  a  warrant  from  the  governor  to  rescue  him.  We 
expect  this  will  be  done  about  midnight  without  any 
help  from  you.  But  we  have  promised  to  meet  the  res- 
cuing party  at  the  north  gate  of  the  castle  grounds  with 
our  men  and  conduct  them  to  the  pinnace.  We  hope 
that  this  will  be  all  we  need  to  do.  But  if  we  should  be 
disappointed,  I  want  you  to  be  ready  with  stout  hearts 


THE   ARGOKAUTS.  329 

and  arms  to  succeed  Avliere  others  have  failed.  The  sol- 
diers are  few,  at  midnight  they  will  be  drunk,  the  castle 
will  be  open,  and  I  who  know  every  nook  in  it  will  be 
your  guide.  Now,  who  of  you  will  rise  up  for  us  against 
the  evil  doers?  ^^ 

"  We  will  all  go,"  said  one. 

"  Yes,  all,''  said  another  and  another. 

"There  is  none  of  us  willing  to  be  left  behind,"  ex- 
claimed the  peddler  as  he  looked  around. 

"And  yet,"  said  Seti,  "  we  must  leave  some  with  the 
vessel.     Ten  of  your  stoutest  will  be  enough  to  go  with 

us;    and   you   may   select  these   for   yourselves 

Now  let  us  kneel  and  pray  to  the  God  of  Israel,  who  can 
do  great  things  for  us  whereof  we  shall  be  glad?"  and,  to 
the  astonishment  of  all,  he  kneeled,  and  spread  forth  his 
hands  heavenward,  and  invoked  the  blessing  of  the  Most 
High  on  their  undertaking  with  the  manner  of  one  who 
saw  God  and  stood  in  his  very  presence.  Few  words,  but 
full  of  meaning  and  realization  and  devotion.  And  that 
westering  sun  looked  through  the  screen  of  palms  on  as 
true  and  acceptable  a  prayer  meeting  as  he  sees  to  day. 

In  the  brief  twilight  that  follows  an  Egyptian  sun  ■ 
setting,  they  saw  a  man  running  down  to  them  from  the 
high  road  that  skirted  the  bank.  It  proved  to  be  the  old 
Egyptian  custode.  He  was  spent  with  running,  and, 
when  brought  up  to  Seti  and  Rachel,  could  hardly  speak. 
But  at  last  he  managed  to  let  them  know  that  he  was 
much  afraid,  from  his  wife's  growing  agitation,  that  her 
courage  would  fail  at  the  critical  moment.  All  appear- 
ances promised  an  agony  of  fright  and  incapacity  when 
presence  of  mind  would  be  most  needed.  He  begged  that 
the  lady,  who  only  seemed  to  have  power  to  soothe  and 


330  THE   ARGONAUTS. 

hearten  lier,  would  not  fail  to  come  witli  the  others.     It 
might  save  everything. 

"  I  ivill  come/'  said  Rachel;  and,  looking  at  Seti,  she 
added,  "  I  had  rather  in  any  case  go  with  you  than  re- 
main here  in  suspense." 

He  made  no  reply  to  her,  but  said  to  the  Egyptian  as 
he  dismissed  him  with  a  present:  ''Do  not  forget  to 
have  the  north  gate  opened  early — also  the  iron  door  lead- 
ing to  the  cellars.  Have  a  lighted  lantern  ready  as  soon 
as  the  soldiers  are  quiet." 

The  stars  came  out  one  by  one.  Sirius  flashed  out 
first;  then  Aldebaran ;  then  the  body  and  belt  and  sword 
of  Orion,  together  with  Pleiades  and  Hyades  and  the 
Chambers  of  the  South — with  their  pageant  universe. 
No  moon  would  appear  till  after  midnight ;  but  such  was 
the  stellar  effulgence  that  nothing  more  seemed  needed 
for  such  an  enterprise. 

The  flight  of  Time!  Yes,  he  is  sometimes  pictured 
with  wings  as  far  stretching  and  mighty  as  an  archan- 
gel's ;  and  sometimes  he  seems  to  us  to  be  plying  them 
with  all  his  might.  But  not  in  such  circumstances  as  our 
friends  were  in.  To  eager,  restless,  susi3enseful  hearts, 
lioping  the  best  but  fearing  the  worst,  eager  to  work  but 
for  the  present  able  to  do  nothing,  Time  has  no  wings 
at  all,  not  even  feet,  but  creeps  along  as  if  weighted  with 
untold  chains.  So  crept  he  that  night  to  Seti  and  Ra- 
chel. 

But  even  the  snail  is  at  last  found  to  have  moved — 
the  most  lingering  hour  that  ever  crept  toward  a  man, 
second  by  second,  at  last  arrives — and  so,  at  last,  midnight 
ached  along  and  found  Seti  and  his  company  at  the  north 
gate.     It  was  unfastened.     So  far,  well. 


THE   ARGONAUTS.  331 

They  listened.  They  thought  they  could  hear  dull 
strokes  at  carefully  measured  intervals.  "  Get  nearer — as 
near  as  you  can/'  said  Seti  to  the  peddler,  "and  see  if 
the  sound  does  not  come  from  the  dungeon.^' 

In  a  few  moments  the  man  returned  to  say  that  the 
prisoner  was  evidently  at  work  on  his  door;  but  that  the 
custodes,  both  man  and  wife,  were  sitting  in  an  appar- 
ently helpless  state  on  the  steps  before  the  iron  door  lead- 
ing to  the  vaults.  He  could  scarcely  get  an  intelligible 
word  from  either  of  them. 

"  Let  us  go  to  them/'  whispered  Eachel  to  Seti ;  "let 
us  go  to  them  alone.  The  men  would  only  alarm  and 
confound  them  more." 

For  answer  he  drew  her  arm  still  further  within  his ; 
and  went  cautiously  forward  through  the  shadows  straight 
toward  the  door  of  the  vaults.  Sure  enough,  there  were 
the  custodes  on  the  last  step,  cowering,  trembling,  moan- 
ing faintly,  almost  stupid  with  terror.  Eachel  knelt  by 
the  woman,  took  hold  of  her  hand  with  one  hand  and 
stroked  her  with  the  other,  bade  her  be  of  good  courage, 
if  only  for  a  little. 

"  You  see,"  said  she,  "  that  I  have  come  to  help  you. 
Seti  also  is  here;  and  many  other  helpers  are  behind. 
Have  you  taken  the  cordial?  Ah,  I  see  that  you  have 
forgotten  it.  Never  mind,  take  it  now.  There,  now  I 
hope  you  will  soon  feel  better.  \Yhat  do  you  say?  You 
have  no  strength?  You  cannot  go  alone?  Look,  De- 
borah, let  us  go  together  as  far  as  the  prison  door  and  see 
what  progress  has  been  made.  Perhaps  it  will  not  be 
necessary  to  go  for  the  key.     Come,  lean  on  me." 

So  the  woman  was  persuaded  to  her  feet.  The  potion 
that  Rachel  had  given  her  seemed  beginning  to  take  ef- 


ii 
it 


332  THE   ARGONAUTS. 

feet.  Seti  pushed  open  the  iron  door,  found  a  lighted 
hintern  just  witliin,  cautiously  descended  the  steps  with 
it,  closely  followed  by  the  two  women.  Now  the  blows 
were  falling  strong  and  fast ;  as  if  the  prisoner  knew  that 
no  time  was  to  be  lost.  They  came  to  the  grated  open- 
ing into  the  cell.  Seti  set  the  lantern  by  it.  At  once 
the  strokes  ceased. 

"  Is  it  Aleph  the  Chaldean?  "  inquired  the  priest  in  a 
voice  scarcely  above  a  whisper. 

"Thank  Heaven!  it  is  the  voice  of  Seti,  my  friend 
and  father, ''^  answered  a  voice  within. 

Will  the  door  give  way?  "  asked  Seti. 
I  fear  not,"  replied  Aleph.  "I  cannot  see  where 
to  apply  the  bar,  and  so  much  of  my  labor  is  thrown 
away.  If  a  light  could  be  introduced  through  the  grat- 
ing, I  could  soon  tell  whether  freedom  is  possible  in  this 
way." 

"  Can  you  get  a  narrow  sconce  that  will  pass  through 
the  grate?"  asked  Seti  of  the  custode. 

The  woman,  without  speaking,  pointed  in  a  vague  way 
toward  the  room  above. 

"Do  nothing  till  we  return,"  said  the  priest  to 
Aleph.  "  We  will  find  you  a  light,  or  something  bet- 
ter." 

Then  he  whispered  to  Rachel,  "There  is  but  one 
thing  to  be  done.  Seat  the  woman  on  this  bench  and 
come.  AVe  must  do  without  her.  She  might  shriek  or 
fall  among  the  men  at  any  moment.    Safer  without  her." 

The  woman  sank  on  the  bench  like  a  rag.  Seti  took 
down  the  lantern,  drew  Rachel's  arm  again  Avithin  his 
own,  and  softly  made  his  way  up  a  fiight  of  steps  to  the 
door  of  the  mess  room.     He  listened  a  moment.     Notli- 


THE   ARGONAUTS.  333 

ing  was  audible  but  the  dull  hard  breathing  of  the  men 
within. 

He  gently  pressed  the  door  open.  The  room  was  full 
of  lights  of  all  sorts — as  if  the  ruffians  had  been  afraid  of 
darkness  and  meant  to  have  as  little  of  it  as  possible. 
And  all  around — on  benches,  on  the  floor,  under  the 
great  table,  hanging  limp  over  the  backs  of  chairs — were 
the  men  in  a  state  of  swinish  intoxication.  Broken  and 
upset  cups  lay  about  everywhere.  Pools  of  wine  and 
vomit  were  on  the  table  and  on  the  floor.  The  foul  air 
was  almost  intolerable. 

Seti  took  up  a  sword  that  lay  on  the  floor,  and  held 
out  the  lantern  to  Rachel. 

*'  No,  grandfather,^'  she  whispered,  "  this  work  is  for 
me.  I  can  tread  among  them  more  lightly  than  you 
can;  and  now  I  can  see  the  key  at  the  belt  of  yonder 
man,"  and  she  pointed  to  a  man  who  sat  at  the  head  of 
the  table,  his  arms  spread  out  upon  it,  and  his  head  rest- 
ing on  his  arms. 

He  expostulated,  "  Perhaps  the  woman  neglected  to 
drug  the  wine  as  she  neglected  her  own  cordial.'' 

Without  replying,  the  maiden  gathered  her  robes 
tightly  about  her,  and  stepped  in  among  the  dangerous 
brutes.  Her  feet  fell  as  fall  the  snow-flakes.  Around 
one  man,  over  the  arm  or  leg  of  another,  narrowly  miss- 
ing the  nodding  head  of  a  third— on  she  went  through 
those  swine  possessed  with  devils  like  some  celestial  vis- 
ion, with  eye  and  foot  steady  and  sure,  till  she  reached 
the  farther  end  of  the  room  and  the  side  of  the  symposi- 
arch.  She  saw  the  key.  Oh  for  a  knife  to  sever  it  from 
the  belt !  She  could  see  nowhere  any  sharp  cutting  tool. 
The  man  was  snoring  heavily ;  the  snores  got  into  a  tan- 


334  THE   ARGONAUTS. 

gle,  trembled,  stopped.  He  groaned  and  moved.  She 
stood  breathlessly  over  him  with  steady,  fljiming  eyes  till 
his  breathing  became  regular  again ;  then,  seizing  a  small 
sconce  from  the  table,  she  held  it  under  the  string  that 
fastened  the  key  to  the  belt.  In  a  moment  the  two 
parted  company.  With  lamp  in  one  hand,  and  the  key 
with  her  draperies  in  the  other,  she  made  her  way  back 
to  the  door  and  Seti  as  carefully  as  she  went. 

They  passed  out.  Seti  noiselessly  closed  the  door, 
drew  up  between  it  and  an  angle  in  the  wall  a  stout 
bench,  and  descended  to  the  dungeon.  Rachel  put  her 
hand  with  the  narrow  lamp  in  it  through  the  grate,  and 
whispered  in  an  unsteady  voice,  "We  have  the  key. 
Take  the  light,  and,  if  you  have  displaced  the  door  some- 
what, replace  it.     Else  the  key  may  not  work.'" 

He  took  it,  made  a  few  movements  with  his  bar,  then 
said,  "Now  try  the  key."  Seti  inserted  it  and  tried  to 
turn — alas,  the  bolt  would  not  move. 

"  Hand  the  key  to  me,"  said  Aleph;  "  perhaps  I  can 
do  better  from  the  inside." 

It  was  passed  through  the  grate.  The  outside  hearts 
stood  still  as  the  key  was  heard  groping  for  its  hole,  then 
stoutly  pushed  home,  then  beginning  to  turn  in  the 
wards.  Would  it  stop?  Has  it  stopped?  Ah,  what  a 
moment  that  was!  Human  nature  could  not  endure 
many  such  strains.  But  hark!  There  is  a  sudden 
mighty  heave  and  push  and  wrench;  and,  oh  joy!  youth 
and  strength  and  Heaven  have  surely  conquered.  Back 
flies  the  bolt  with  a  loud  noise. that  is  musical  as  Paradise ; 
and  lo,  Aleph  stands  before  them.  Seti  threw  his  arms 
about  him,  and  exclaimed,  "  My  son — thank  Heaven!  " 

^'I  also  thank  Heaven  and  my  foster-father,"  re- 


THE   ARGONAUTS.  335 

turned  Aleph  warmly,  as  he  returned. the  embrace;  and 
then,  turning  toward  Rachel  with  eyes  that  even  in  the 
dim  light  throbbed  into  hers  thankfulness,  and  much  be- 
sides that  made  her  face  burn  and  her  heart  sing,  he 
added,  "And  there  is  another  who  will  not  be  forgotten, 
even  the  angel  whom  God  has  sent  to  shut  the  lions' 
mouths  so  that  they  have  not  hurt  me.  I  knew  your 
voice,  and  even  your  hand,  as  well  as  your  chant,  as  you 
came/^ 

"We  must  hasten,"  interrupted  the  priest.  "We 
are  not  yet  quite  out  of  the  lions'  den." 

Aleph  at  once  went  into  the  dungeon  and  brought  out 
his  staff  and  the  lamp. 

"And  Deborah?  It  will  not  do  to  leave  the  poor 
woman  here;  and,  shattered  as  she  is,  she  cannot  help 
herself  away.  She  failed  us  at  the  last  moment,  but  she 
did  what  she  could,"  whispered  Rachel  to  Aleph  as  she 
pointed  to  the  custode  on  the  bench. 

He  bent  to  look  at  the  woman.  "No,  she  cannot 
walk,  and  must  not  be  left.     I  will  carry  her.'' 

And  he  took  her  up  as  gently  and  as  easily  as  one 
might  a  babe ;  and  so,  following  Seti,  they  went  up  the 
steps  to  the  iron  door  and  then  out  under  the  blessed  stars 
that  seemed  to  rejoice  and  exult  with  them.  Seti  did 
not  forget  to  make  assurance  of  safety  doubly  sure  by 
putting  another  bolted  door  between  them  and  pursuit. 
They  found  the  Egyptian  sitting  where  they  had  left 
him.  He  plainly  was  able  to  help  himself:  so,  bidding 
him  follow,  they  moved  on  to  the  gate,  where  they  found 
the  boatmen  and  peddler  much  alarmed  at  their  long  ab- 
sence and  about  going  to  seek  them.  This  gate  also  they 
immediately  bolted  after  them — thus  putting  a  third  em- 


336  .  THE   ARGONAUTS. 

barrassment  in  the  way  of  pursuit.  The  pinnace-men 
could  scarce  restrain  their  joy  and  shouts  when  they  saw 
Aleph  among  them  with  the  woman  in  his  arms.  They 
did  not  restrain  themselves  as  soon  as  the  bolt  of  the  gate 
went  clanging  home,  but  sent  up  a  shout  full  of  hearti- 
ness and  victory.  The  newly  risen  moon  seemed  to  shout 
back  again. 

They  reached  the  vessel  without  further  adventure. 

"Unmoor,  men/'  cried  Seti,  "  and  push  out  into  the 

river  I 

When  this  had  been  done,  and  the  pinnace  was  mov- 
ing gently  with  the  current,  his  voice  rose  again.  "  Be- 
fore we  spread  our  sails  and  take  oars  for  Alexandria,  let 
us  acknowledge  Him  who  has  answered  our  prayers.'' 
And  so  under  the  bright  moonlight,  floating  gently  down 
the  restful  ancient  river,  with  no  sound  on  the  air  but 
his  own  majestic  voice,  the  high  priest,  as  if  primate  of 
all  religions,  gave  thanks,  in  few  and  fitting  words  and 
with  uplifted  hands,  for  the  success  of  their  enterprise  to 
Him  "who  executeth  judgment  for  the  oppressed,  who 
giveth  food  to  the  hungry,  and  who  looseth  the  prisoners." 

Now  up,  men,  with  the  sails !  Now,  ye  oarsmen  with 
light  hearts  and  strong  arms,  ply  joyfully  the  oars  home- 
ward !  Aleph,  sitting  at  the  feet  of  Seti  and  Rachel,  is 
duly  questioned  and  tells  modestly  his  story ;  and  he  in 
return  soon  comes  to  know  all  that  we  know  about  the 
measures  taken  for  his  rescue — also  about  the  situation 
of  Cimon,  in  regard  to  whom  his  concern  seemed  to  have 
been  greater  than  for  himself.  For  the  most  part  Seti 
told  the  story.  And  he  told  it  well.  Rachel  certainly 
had  no  reason  to  complain  that  justice  was  not  done  to 
the  part  she  had  taken  in  the  matter.     And  she  saw  more 


THE   ARGONAUTS.  337 

eloquent  speaking  in  the  two  luminaries  that  occasionally 
beamed  up  into  hers  than  she  had  ever  seen  in  moon  and 
stars — or  even  the  sun. 

But  toiling  men  must  have  rest  and  sleep.  So,  after 
the  lapse  of  an  hour  or  so,  during  which  good  i^rogress 
had  been  made,  the  boatmen  moored  again  under  the 
screen  of  another  leafy  grove  that  overhung  the  river  and 
laid  themselves  down  wherever  they  best  could.  Seti  and 
Rachel  retired  below.  As  for  Aleph,  he  had  had  enough 
of  inactivity.  The  sense  and  delight  of  freedom  once 
more  were  strong  within  him.  He  leaped  ashore ;  and 
walked  about  in  the  grove,  and  sometimes  on  the  highway 
from  Alexandria  Avhich  in  general  followed  the  banks  of 
the  river,  and  which  the  Romans,  according  to  their 
wont,  kept  in  the  best  condition.  AYhile  on  this  thor- 
oughfare he  heard  the  sound  of  wheels  and  the  tramp  of 
furiously  driven  horses  coming  from  the  north.  He 
stepped  into  the  grove.  The  noise  rapidly  grew,  and 
soon  became  mixed  Avith  the  voices  of  men  in  angry  dis- 
pute.    As  the  voices  came  still  nearer — could  it  be? 

Aleph  thought  he  recognized  the  voice  of  Draco.  Then 
appeared  a  chariot  drawn  by  two  foaming  horses,  with 
four  men  seated  in  it.  AVhen  nearly  abreast  of  him  the 
horses  suddenly  stojoped. 

"We  will  go  no  farther,"  exclaimed  the  voice  of 
Draco,  ''till  this  matter  is  settled.  We  mean  that  he 
shall  die ;  and  we  also  mean  to  be  paid  well  for  what  we 
have  done  for  you.  We  must  have  enough  to  pay  us  for 
the  loss  of  our  situations,  and  to  keep  us  in  Rome,  or 
wherever  we  choose  to  go,  for  the  rest  of  our  lives.  AYe 
want  the  talents  down— all  of  them.  We  are  not  a-going 
to  trust  you  for  a  yearly  stipend,  which  may  and  may  not 


338  THE   ARGONAUTS. 

be  paid;  we  must  have  everything  in  our  own  power. 
You  did  not  promise  so  much?  But  you  promised  to  pay 
us  liberally ;  and  the  pay  must  be  what  ivc  call  liberal. 
Cannot  get  so  many  talents?  You  can  at  least  steal  them 
from  your  father,  or  from  the  treasury  of  the  province— 
we  do  not  care  which.  We  do  not  care  how  you  come  by 
the  money  if  so  be  that  we  get  it.^' 

In  the  course  of  the  violent  altercation  that  followed 
Aleph  recognized  three  other  voices — that  of  the  eques- 
trian trainer,  that  of  Antis,  and  that  of  Sextus  Flaccus 
Avho  seemed  in  a  half  drunken  state.  He  also  gathered 
that  Sextus  had  been  berating  the  trainers  for  their  de- 
feat by  Aleph  until  the  passionate  men  had  been  pro- 
voked beyond  measure,  lost  all  self-control,  and  were 
ready  to  do  almost  anything  to  gratify  their  resentment. 
Sextus  was  too  much  in  wine  to  see  his  danger ;  kept  on 
abusing  them  roundly ;  and  even  went  so  far  as  to  threaten 
that  he  would  pay  them  little  or  nothing  for  their  ser- 
vices.    This  had  brought  matters  to  a  crisis. 

"  Now,"  said  Draco  at  last,  with  an  oath  as  horrible  as 
a  pagan  or  an  atheist  could  swear,  "  let  us  have  done  with 
this.  Tell  us,  Sextus  Flaccus,  what  you  will  do— yes  or 
no.  Will  you  promise  by  the  soul  of  your  mother,  the 
only  oath  you  are  likely  to  keep,  that  within  five  days, 
by  hook  or  by  crook,  you  will  pay  over  to  us  the  money 
we  demand?  If  not,  you  drunken  fool,  we  will  strangle 
you  on  the  spot  and  throw  your  body  into  the  river.  It 
will  be  said  that  you  fell  into  the  river  in  a  drunken  fit. 
And  everybody  will  believe  the  story— even  your  own 
father.  Swear,  I  say,  or  die,  die.  We  can  help  our- 
selves at  the  castle  to  more  than  you  are  likely  to  give 
us,  if  it  be  true,  as  we  hear,  that  your  father  hides  his 


THE   ARGONAUTS.  339 

treasures  there ;  and  then  we  will  take  to  the  desert  and 
have  everybody  for  a  prey.     Come !  ^' 

Nothing  came  from  Sextus  but  a  new  volley  of  pro- 
voking epithets  and  threats. 

The  two  trainers  grasped  him.  A  struggle  followed. 
"  Drive  on  a  little  farther  to  a  better  spot/'  cried  Draco 
to  Antis. 

The  horses  sprang  forward  under  the  lash  and  soon 
disappeared.  But  Aleph  could  hear  the  noise  of  scuffle, 
muffled  calls  for  help,  half  suffocated  cries  of  terror.  He 
ran  after  the  chariot  as  fast  as  possible :  at  length  descried 
it  standing  by  the  roadside  empty.  At  the  same  time  he 
heard  a  loud  splash  and  saw  three  men  run  up  from  the 
river  bank,  leap  into  the  chariot,  aud  drive  off  at  a  furious 
pace.  It  was  vain  to  pursue — perhaps  he  might  rescue 
the  victim.  So  he  rushed  to  the  bank  which  the  men  had 
just  left ;  and  leaned  over  the  water,  holding  by  a  friendly 
sapling  that  bent  over  the  stream.  At  first  he  could  see 
nothing,  coming  as  he  did  from  the  bright  moonlight ; 
but  in  a  moment  he  saw  a  hand  just  sinking  beneath  the 
water — saw  also  a  crocodile  close  by  in  the  act  of  turning 
over  to  seize  his  prey.  Quick  as  thought  he  struck  at  the 
monster  with  his  staff,  and  then,  plunging  his  arm  deep 
in  the  water,  caught  the  fingers  of  Sextus  just  as  they 
were  passing  out  of  reach,  and  drew  the  body  to  the  bank. 
It  was  apparently  lifeless.  The  proper  way  of  treating 
such  a  body  is  no  discovery  of  modern  times.  Aleph  was 
not  ignorant  of  it,  promptly  used  it,  and  found  signs  that 
life  was  not  extinct,  though  flickering  in  its  socket.  He 
took  up  the  body  and  hastened  to  return  to  the  pinnace. 
He  found  it  all  alive  with  anxiety  at  his  disappearance — 
especially  after  the  sounds  of  strife  and  rushing  wheels 


340  THE   ARGONAUTS. 

liad  faintly  come  to  them.  Seti  and  Rachel  met  him,  as 
he  stepped  on  board  with  his  burden,  with  a  joyful  wel- 
come and  inquiring  looks. 

''Sextus  Flaccus,  nearly  or  quite  murdered  by  his 
comrades— first  throttled,  and  then  drowned! '' 

A  few  swift  words  of  further  explanation,  and  Aleph 
hastened  to  the  dais  with  his  burden,  and  for  a  long  time 
bent  every  energy  to  restore  the  vital  warmth — by  post- 
ure, by  friction,  by  wrapping  in  rugs,  by  aiding  the  ribs 
in  the  scarcely  perceptible  breathing  movement,  by  fan- 
ning— Seti  assisting  with  advice  and  hands.     It  was  a 
hard  fight  with  death ;  but  at  last  came  signs  that  their 
labor  would  not  be  in  vain.     Sextus  breathed  regularly 
though  feebly.     His  throat,  which  they  had  laid  bare, 
and  which  was  all  bruised  and  discolored  by  the  strangling 
hands  of  the  ruffians,  showed  the  efforts  of  the  vital  fluid 
to  resume  a  forceful  circulation.     At  last  he  moaned  and 
opened  his  eyes.     Opened  them  on  Aleph  as  he  knelt  be- 
fore him,  fanning  him,  gently  adjusting  his  position  and 
wraps  as  usefully  as  possible.     Opened  them  at  first  in  a 
vague,  bewildered  stare  into  which  soon  came  a  grain  of 
intelligence,  then  of  astonishment,  then  of  alarm.     He 
tried  to  raise  himself.     Aleph  gently  helped  him.     Then 
followed   a   fixed   gaze   of   absorbed    inquiry   in    Avhicli 
thought  seemed  wrestling  with  thought,  each  demanding 
of  each,  miat  means  all  this  ?     Is  if  possible  ?     He  then 
quietly  closed  his  eyes  and  seemed  trying  to  recollect 
himself.     Seti  and  Rachel  kept  well  behind,  and  watched 
with  breathless  interest.     Again  Sextus  opened  his  eyes 
—this  time  with  full  intelligence  in  them.     He  tried  to 
speak.     No  sound  came.     He  tried  again.     Aleph  put 
his  ear  near  the  struggling  lips. 


THE   ARGONAUTS.  341 

**Are  you  Aleph  the  Chaldean?"  came  in  the  faintest 
of  whispers. 

Aleph  nodded. 

"Aleph  the  prisoner?  '^ 

Aleph  nodded  again. 

*'Did  you  save  me  from  the  men,  and  the  Nile,  and — 
the  crocodile?^'  Sextus  asked  in  a  stronger  voice. 

"What,  did  you  notice  the  crocodile?"  said  Aleph. 
"I  thought  you  were  beyond  noticing  anything." 

"  I  saw  him  preparing  to  seize  me — saw  something 
worse  than  a  crocodile ;  for  all  my  follies  and  sins  of  many 
years,  including  my  treatment  of  you,  came  up  before  me 
in  one  dreadful  flash.  Ah,  it  was  a  dreadful  sight — 
worse  than  any  monster  on  sea  or  land!  " 

"  You  see  that  it  is  possible  to  escape  from  monsters 
that  are  very  near/'  said  Aleph  soothingly.  "But  I 
would  not  talk  any  more  just  now.  You  are  too  weak. 
Let  me  adjust  the  rugs  and  wraps  more  comfortably  for 
you,  and  lie  down  again.     You  are  among  friends." 

Sextus  bent  another  long  wondering  gaze  at  the  noble 
face  that  was  bending  over  him,  and  then  resigned  him- 
self with  closed  eyes  to  the  gentle  hands  that  laid  him 
carefully  down  to  a  smoother  and  softer  resting  place. 
In  a  few  moments  he  was  asleep. 

"  Well,"  said  Seti,  with  a  grave  smile,  you  are  a  very 
strange  young  man.  Is  this  the  way  you  treat  enemies 
in  your  country?  If  so  it  is  very  unlike  any  other  coun- 
try that  I  happen  to  know.  Still,  I  confess  that  the 
way,  unprecedented  as  it  is,  has  a  good  look  to  it,  and 
may  be  worth  introducing  into  Egypt. 

"  Say  not  unprecedented,  my  dear  grandfather,"  said 
Rachel,  "for  you  know   Deity  treats  men  better  than 


342  THE   ARGONAITTS. 

they  deserve;  and  the  Christ,  it  seems,  does  the  same. 
How  forbearing  he  is  toward  his  enemies,  when  he  could 
so  easily  overwhelm  them !  " 

Aleph  was  looking  dreamily  at  the  banks  now  fast 
gliding  by  (for  the  pinnace  was  in  full  motion  again  and 
the  dawn  was  kindling  all  things  into  color  and  beauty), 
but  at  the  word  Christ  he  turned  inquiringly  toward  Ra- 
chel.    She  understood  him. 

*'  Yes,"  she  said,  "  we  have  something  new  to  tell  you 
about  the  Christ — something  new  and  wonderful  that 
comes  from  a  witness  that  I  can  trust — my  own  mother 
— and  she  proceeded  to  relate  to  him  the  history  of  the 
resurrection  of  Lazarus  and  the  consequent  exasperation 
and  plottings  of  his  enemies. 

"Having  had  little  else  to  do,  I  have  been  thinking 
much  of  Him  during  the  last  few  days,"  returned  Aleph, 
"  especially  of  what  the  prophets,  Isaiah  and  Daniel,  say 
of  his  suffering  character.  '  He  was  wounded  for  our 
transgression,  he  was  bruised  for  our  iniquities,  and  the 
Lord  has  laid  on  him  the  iniquities  of  us  all :  he  was 
taken  from  prison  and  from  judgment,  and  who  shall  de- 
clare his  generation,  for  he  was  cut  off  out  of  the  land  of 
the  living.'  And  Daniel  says,  'And  after  three  score 
and  two  weeks  shall  the  Messiah  be  cut  off,  but  not  for 
himself.'  So  I  am  expecting  the  worst  and  the  best — 
the  greatest  sacrifice  and  the  greatest  salvation  the  world 
has  ever  seen.  Jesus  is  surely  a  king ;  but  at  present  his 
kingdom  is  not  of  this  world.  He  will  pass  to  his  throne 
through  the  gates  of  death.  Then  of  his  kingdom  there 
will  be  no  end." 

He  said  this  as  a  seer  might  say  it,  and  with  a  new 
light  in  his  face. 


THE   ARGONAUTS.  343 

Sextus  slumbered  on,  hour  after  hour,  as  the  vessel 
glided  down  the  silent  river  and  the  sun  glided  up  the 
silent  sky.  Their  morning  meal  was  spread  for  them  and 
still  he  slept.  But  when  they  raised  their  heads,  after  the 
priest  had  thanked  Him  who  giveth  to  all  their  food,  they 
saw  that  his  eyes  were  wide  open  and  fastened  on  them. 
Aleph  at  once  went  to  him,  helped  him  to  a  sitting  j)ost- 
ure,  propped  him  with  cushions  and  rugs,  and  then 
brought  him  fruits  and  other  food.  He  was  now  able  to 
eat,  though  but  very  slowly.  Aleph  did  not  leave  him 
till  his  slow  repast  was  quite  finished,  and  he  was  again 
settled  into  a  restful  position.  During  all  this  he  said 
not  a  word. 

It  was  not  long  after  the  meal  and  the  general  relig- 
ious service  that  immediately  followed  that  they  saw  in 
the  distance  and  coming  toward  them  a  large  galley  evi- 
dently crowded  with  people.  As  it  approached  they  rec- 
ognized the  young  men  of  the  University ;  and  the  young 
men  at  the  same  time  recognized  the  commanding  form 
of  Aleph,  who  had  risen  for  a  better  view  of  the  craft  in 
which  Seti  seemed  so  interested.  What  a  shout  from 
young  throats  suddenly  broke  into  the  sky!  What  a 
climbing  into  all  high  places  and  lookouts!  What  a 
frantic  flourish  of  hands  and  caps — yea,  of  spears  and 
swords  and  bucklers ;  for  it  was  now  plain  that  something 
besides  a  cordial  reception  of  a  returning  friend  was  in 
the  thought  of  the  young  men  when  they  left  Alexandria. 
They  were  prepared  to  fight  as  well  as  to  celebrate. 

"Hail  Aleph  the  Chaldean!  "  Three  times  they  had 
given  this  uproarious  greeting  with  full  lungs  and  wild 
gesticulations ;  and  there  is  no  telling  when  they  would 
have  stopped  had  not  Aleph  stepped  on  the  bulwark  to- 


344  THE   ARGONAUTS. 

ward  the  galley  and  beckoned  to  them.     They  instantly 
became  silent. 

"You  see,  my  friends,  that  the  venerable  Seti  has 
found  me,  and  found  me  safe  and  sound — thanks  to 
Heaven  and  him.  No  matter  where,  no  matter  how:  he 
desires  that  no  questions  be  asked  about  these  things. 
My  arrest  and  abduction  were  not  by  the  authorities :  they 
were  a  private  enterprise  altogether  for  which  we  may 
hold  Draco  responsible,  if  we  can  lay  hands  on  him. 
Apart  from  him  all  is  buried.  Many  thanks  to  you  for 
the  generous  interest  you  have  taken  in  the  stranger,  for 
the  efforts  and  j^ains  you  have  been  at  on  my  account,  and 
of  which  I  have  been  duly  informed.  I  did  not  know 
when  I  joined  the  University  what  a  company  of  gener- 
ous and  warm  hearted  associates  I  would  have.  If  my 
arm  were  long  enough  I  would  grasp  the  hand  of  every 
one  of  you.  Suppose  it  done  till  we  meet  again.  Once 
more ;  in  return  for  your  warm  greetings,  I  am  sure  that 
I  can  give  not  only  my  own  but  those  of  the  dear  friends 
in  whose  hands  you  see  me,  and  without  whom  I  should 
not  be  here  to  day." 

Pausing  a  moment,  he  added,  "  I  have  a  favor  to  ask. 
We  have  with  us  a  sick  friend  for  whom  quiet  and  rest 
are  needed.  For  this  and  other  reasons  we  propose  that 
you  precede  or  follow  us  at  a  considerable  interval ;  and 
that  we  enter  the  city  apart  in  as  quiet  and  undemonstra- 
tive a  way  as  possible.  We  can  demonstrate  at  our  lei- 
sure hereafter.  I  certainly  shall  want  to  demonstrate  my 
gratitude." 

One  great  cheer  for  the  speaker;  and  another  for 
"the  empress  of  Alexandria"  as  they  now  discovered 
Eacliel  beneath  the  curtain  which  she  had  hastily  let  fall 


THE   ARGONAUTS.  345 

between  herself  and  the  approaching  galley;  and  then 
the  galley  silently  droj^ped  behind — far  behind.  But  our 
friends  could  hear  faintly  from  it  the  music  of  song  and 
instrument,  and  faintly  see  the  flutter  of  banners  and 
streamers  of  all  sorts  all  the  way  along  the  river  and 
canal.  But  when  they  entered  the  lake  they  quite  lost 
sight  and  hearing  of  the  galley.  So  the  pinnace  came 
quietly  to  its  old  moorings. 

Up  to  this  time  Sextus  had  sat  silent  and  almost  mo- 
tionless Avhere  he  had  been  placed.  He  now  threw  off 
his  wraps  and  attempted  to  rise.  With  the  help  of  Aleph, 
who  hastened  to  him,  he  succeeded ;  but  he  was  not  able 
to  stand  alone. 

I  see  a  close  palanquin  on  the  shore,"  said  Aleph. 
I  will  beckon  for  it,  and  if  you  somewhat  muffle  the 
lower  part  of  your  face,  you  will  not  be  recognized.  1 
will  order  the  bearers  to  take  you  to  Bruchium." 

Sextus  looked  gratefully  at  him,  and  said  in  a  low  but 
decisive  voice,  "  I  shall  not  forget  this,  as  you  soon  will 
have  occasion  to  know." 

So  they  parted  with  mutual  pressure  of  the  hand. 

Then  Aleph  parted  from  Seti  and  Rachel — saying  to 
the  latter  as  she  reminded  him  of  his  promise  to  see  Mir- 
iam, "  Shall  I  also  see  the  empress  of  Rome?"  His  voice 
was  somewhat  unsteady. 

She  hesitated  for  a  moment,  and  then  said,  impul- 
sively, "  You  will  never  see  her,  if  earth  and  Heaven  can 
prevent  it;"  and  her  face  shone  with  a  determination 
that  was  almost  fierce. 

"If  I  only  wore  a  diadem,  I  know  at  whose  feet  it 
would  be  laid  " — he  said  it  simply,  as  to  himself. 

Aleph  the  Chaldean  already  wears  a  diadem  which 


a 


346  THE   ARGONAUTS. 

the  (laughter  of  Alexander  values  more  than  any  that  will 
ever  shine  on  the  banks  of  the  Tiber,"  was  the  reply. 

What  is  the  use  of  being  a  princess  and,  by  invitation, 
an  empress,  if  she  cannot  speak  her  mind  frankly  ?  But 
what  is  her  mind?  Seti  might  have  used  the  same  words. 
From  his  lips  they  would  have  meant  high  approval  and 
even  admiration.  Was  this  all  that  she  meant?  Did  she 
only  pay  such  fitting  intellectual  tribute  to  Aleph  as  one 
pays  to  an  admirable  statue,  to  the  glorious  stars,  or  to 
each  of  a  hundred  shining  historic  persons?  W^e  admire 
them  and  praise  them — but  we  can  live  without  them. 
We  can  leave  the  admirable  statue  in  its  palace  or  temple 
and  very  contentedly  go  about  our  business,  never  to  see 
it  again.  We  can  praise  Plato  to  the  skies,  and  yet  be 
quite  willing  to  have  him  and  his  Republic  remain  some 
twenty  odd  centuries  away  from  us.  Who  has  a  right  to 
say  that  such  was  not  the  mind  of  Eachel? — appreciative, 
outspoken,  Setian,  and — nothing  more? 


XV. 

THE     CONFERENCES. 

Avolv  napouTuv  T^fiicvr   '?\,oyoQ  nupa. 

— ^scHYLUs,  Eum.  428. 
He  hears  but  half  who  hears  one  side  only. 


1.  Legal  preparations. 

2.  A.  mi:xed.  cup. 

3.  A  critical  conversation. 

4.  Kor  better  or  worse? 


XV. 

THE  CONFERENCES. 

THERE  were  several  reasons  why  the  first  wonder  and 
rush  of  surmises  as  to  the  reappearance  of  Aleph 
did  not  last  long.  They  were  let  alone  severely.  And 
then  the  rumors  of  an  approaching  visit  from  the  Ca?sar 
grew  stronger  every  day ;  and  all  eyes  and  tongues  were 
strongly  drawn  toward  the  daughter  of  Alexander  and 
her  probable  views  and  feelings  as  to  the  great  alliance. 
In  addition,  the  air  was  now  full  of  the  great  trials  that 
were  to  come  off  in  a  few  days — Malus  against  the  two 
brothers,  Malus  against  Cimon,  and  Cimon  against  Malus. 
That  Malus  should  venture  to  attack  anybody  was  not  a 
matter  for  surprise ;  but  that  anybody  should  venture  to 
attack  Malus  was  indeed  wonderful.  So  the  city  had 
plenty  to  talk  about  without  querying  long  as  to  the 
where  and  how  of  Aleph's  escape,  with  nobody  to  answer 
questions. 

The  public  interest  grew  exceedingly  when  it  became 
plain,  as  it  soon  did,  that  the  contest  would  not  be  be- 
tween two  individuals,  but  between  two  great  parties. 
On  the  one  side  were  Malus  and  the  Flacci  with  their 
host  of  dependents :  on  the  other  was  Cimon,  supported 
by  all  the  influence  and  forces  of  Seti  and  Alexander,  as 
well  as  by  the  good- will  and  prestige  and  family  influence 


350  THE   CONFERENCES. 

of  both  branches  of  the  University,  with  which  Aleph 
was  now  unboiuidedly  po])uhir.  Though  he  firmly  de- 
clined to  give  any  information  as  to  who  the  chief  crimi- 
nal in  his  abduction  was,  and  what  the  place  of  his  con- 
finement, and  how  he  Avas  rescued,  the  students  were  not 
offended — following  the  lead  of  Cornelius  and  a  few 
others  who  had  specially  attached  themselves  to  him,  and 
to  whom  he  had  said  that  his  silence  was  to  save  embar- 
rassment to  Cimon  and  other  friends  in  their  affairs. 
They  looked  in  his  face  and  believed  him.  They  heard 
the  ring  of  his  voice  and  were  content  both  with  him  and 
his  friend — with  Cimon,  because  he  was  his  friend.  As 
Mains  soon  had  occasion  to  know.  Not  a  student  entered 
his  warehouse.  If  one  saw  him  coming  he  ostentatiously 
crossed  to  the  other  side  of  the  street.  And  the  vexed 
trader  was  compelled  to  listen  to  some  serenades  that 
were  neither  very  musical  nor  very  complimentary.  Of 
all  such  demonstrations  in  his  favor,  Aleph  was  ignorant ; 
though  he  was  well  aware  on  what  side  the  sympathies  of 
his  fellow-students  were  enlisted. 

I  have  said  that  the  public  assumed  that  the  Flaccan 
influence  would  be  cast  in  favor  of  Mains.  But  one  day 
an  event  occurred  which  unsettled  at  least  the  University 
part  of  the  public  on  this  point.  At  the  close  of  one  of 
Seti's  lectures  and  before  the  students  had  left,  a  herald 
appeared  at  the  door  and  announced  his  Excellency  the 
Governor.  Seti  stepped  forward  after  a  very  cool  and 
stately  fashion  to  receive  the  dignitary;  and  inquired 
what  he  could  do  to  pleasure  his  Excellency.  His  Ex- 
cellency stated  that  he  was  fond  of  young  men,  and  liked 
to  look  in  upon  them  now  and  then,  in  their  curriculum ; 
but  that  his  special  object  to  day  was  to  congratulate  both 


THE   CONFERENCES.  351 

him  and  his  young  friend,  who  he  believed  was  called 
Alt'ph  the  Ulialdeau,  on  the  success  of  the  measures  for 
the  rescue  of  the  latter. 

"I  do  congratulate  you  most  heartily,  venerable  Sir 
— as  I  know  that  you  are  much  interested  in  the  young 
man.  Is  he  present?''  And  Flaccus  looked  about  on 
the  students  as  if  to  discover  him. 

"Will  Aleph  the  Chaldean  come  forward?"  said 
Seti :  ' '  His  Excellency  wishes  to  congratulate  him  in 
person  on  his  safety." 

The  young  men  were  too  much  interested  in  what  was 
j)assing  to  stand  on  ceremony.  The  better  to  see  every- 
thing, they  stepped  on  the  seats  and  pommelled  down  ob- 
noxious shoulders  and  heads.  And  they  saw  Aleph  ad- 
vance, not  only  without  embarrassment,  but  with  a  grace 
and  even  majesty  that  would  have  become  a  king.  And 
yet  the  kingly  way  was  so  unaffected  and  so  modest  in  its 
expression,  as  not  to  be  offensive. 

"  May  it  please  your  Excellency,"  said  Seti  with  em- 
phasis, "  this  is  the  young  man  for  whom  you  have  asked 
and  whom  you  authorized  us  to  rescue  at  all  costs." 

"  I  am  glad  I  did  it.  It  was  one  of  the  best  acts  of 
my  life,"  exclaimed  Flaccus,  as  he  looked  up  with  undis- 
guised astonishment  at  the  figure  and  face  before  him. 

Then  with  some  hesitation  he  continued,  "  You  do 
not  seem,  young  man,  to  have  suffered  much  from  your 
confinement.  It  could  hardly  have  been  very  severe 
without  leaving  some  marks  upon  you.  I  see  none  what- 
ever. I  would  not  object  to  being  confined  myself  if  I 
could  reappear  in  as  good  a  condition  as  yours." 

*'  Still,  such  a  confinement  as  mine  is  not  one  which 
I  can  conscientiously  recommend  to  your  Excellency," 


352  THE   CONFERENCES. 

returned  Alepli.  "  It  had  some  features  about  it  rather 
trying  to  the  average  constitution.  I  think  that  the  fact 
that  I  am  here  to  day  in  a  sound  condition  is  due  to  my 
having  a  constitution  considerably  tougher  than  the  aver- 
age." 

"  No  doubt  it  is  so/'  said  the  Eoman.  "  I  am  glad 
that  you  have  come  off  so  well.  I  have  come  here  to  say 
so ;  to  express  my  pleasure  at  your  safe  return ;  to  con- 
gratulate you  upon  it ;  and  also  to  cougratulate  you  on 
having  secured  in  so  brief  a  time  such  warm  and  most 
desirable  friends  as  I  see  about  you.  I  trust  you  will 
count  me  among  them.'' 

"Aleph  the  Chaldean  accepts  with  pleasure  the  kind 
words  which  your  Excellency  does  him  the  honor  of  olfer- 
ing ;  and  himself  feels  that  he  has  been  highly  favored  in 
finding  in  a  strange  land  so  many  friends  whom  he  will 
never  be  willing  or  able  to  forget." 

"  I  have  another  object  in  coming  here  to  day,"  con- 
tinued Flaccus.  "  My  son,  who  is  sick,  begs  that  you  will 
visit  him  at  the  Ciesareum.  Your  nation,  I  believe,  is 
well  versed  in  leech  craft ;  and  perhaps  you  can  help 
him.  If  you  will  take  a  seat  with  me  in  my  chariot  it 
will  gratify  both  him  and  me." 

"I  will  go  to  your  son  almost  immediately,"  said 
Aleph.  "But  your  Excellency  will  excuse  me  for  de- 
clining the  honor  of  your  chariot.  A  less  distinguished 
way  of  going  will  better  suit  my  youth  and  circum- 
stances." 

To  say  that  the  students  were  astonished  hardly  does 
the  facts  justice.  Three  things  amazed  them— that  the 
Governor  should  take  a  step  so  likely  to  be  understood 
by  the  public  as  against  Malusj  that  Sextus  Flaccus^  sick 


TUE    CONFERENCES.  353 

or  well,  should  send  for  Aleph ;  and  that  Alei^h  should 
carry  himself  in  so  unembarrassed  and  independent  and 
yet  courtly  manner  in  the  presence  of  the  chief  Roman 
dignitary.  It  was  another  revelation  to  them.  Some  of 
them  said,  "  Plainly,  this  is  not  the  first  time  Aleph  has 
dealt  with  people  in  high  places — he  is  too  much  at  home 
with  them  to  be  dealing  with  novelties." 

Both  that  day,  and  daily  for  many  days  afterward, 
Aleph  found  his  way  to  the  C^sareum,  and  to  the  slowly 
recovering  Sextus.  What  was  said  or  done  in  these  in- 
terviews never  transpired — at  least  among  the  students. 
I  am  not  prepared  to  say  but  that  Seti  and  Rachel  came 
to  know  of  pleasant  and  ho23eful  things. 

Well,  it  is  time  to  speak  again  of  the  lovely  Jewess. 
Of^  course  Aleph,  the  very  next  day  after  his  return,  ful- 
filled his  promise  to  see  Miriam — and  all  the  more  readily 
because  Seti  had  domiciled  himself  at  Alexander's  until 
the  return  of  his  son  in  law.  He  found  not  only  Miriam 
but  also  Seti  and  Rachel  in  the  family  apartment.  Great 
was  his  surprise  at  the  gain  the  nurse  had  made  since  he 
last  saw  her ;  and  so  he  was  able  to  give  congratulations 
as  well  as  receive  them.  Miriam's  congratulations,  how- 
ever, were  rather  lame  in  the  expression;  for  when  she 
saw  him  enter  without  any  sign,  even  the  ^slightest,  of 
harm  from  all  that  he  had  passed  through,  her  eyes  filled 
with  tears  and  she  scarcely  found  voice  to  say  more  than, 
Thanh  God. 

"You  see,"  said  Rachel,  "that  Miriam  has  wonder- 
fully improved  within  the  last  few  da3^s;  but  I  doubt 
whether   you   can   guess   to   what   the   improvement   is 


owing." 


a 


The  skill  of  the  leech?"  suggested  Aleph,  smiling. 


a 

a 


354  THE   CONFERENCES. 

"  N"ay — as  if  you  did  not  kuow  her  leech!  "  and  she 
lifted  her  eyebrows. 

The  excellent  nursing?" 
By  no  means — I  can  speak  for  .that. "" 
The  tvant  of  nursing?     The  nurse  has  been  busy 
elsewhere ;  and  so  nature  has  had  a  chance  to  act  freely. 
Excessive  care  is  sometimes  as  hurtful  as  no  care  at  all." 

*'  Still  at  fault,"  cried  the  maiden.  "  Shrewd  as  you 
are,  you  will  not  be  likely  to  guess:  so  I  must  tell  you. 
She  took  a  new  medicine;  and  it  was  Alejjh  the  Chal- 
dean. Devising  ways  and  means  to  get  you  out  of  your 
difficulties,  0  much  enduring  Ulysses,  0  pious  .-3^neas 
beaten  about  in  all  seas — this  is  what  has  made  the 
change  that  you  see.  It  is  a  very  healthful  business  this 
rescuing  Aleph  the  Chaldean." 

Then  followed  a  pleasant  explanation  of  the  part 
which  Miriam  had  taken  in  the  rescue,  and  such  a  grate- 
ful recognition  of  it  as  it  deserved. 

On  the  humorous  plea  that  Miriam  was  indebted  to 
him  for  her  health,  and  must  make  payment  for  the 
same  in  valuable  information,  Aleph  proceeded  to  ask  her 
many  questions  suggested  by  her  former  narratiye  of  what 
she  had  heard  and  seen  of  Jesus.  Rachel  joined  him  in 
this.  As  a  result  they  found  not  a  few  difficulties  re- 
moved or  diminished  by  a  better  knowledge  of  circum- 
stances. 

During  this  questioning  and  cross  questioning  Seti 
sat  a  silent  but  alert  listener.  Only  at  the  close,  when 
the  young  people  fairly  woke  up  to  the  fact  that  for  a 
long  time  he  had  said  nothing,  and  turned  deprecatingly 
toward  him,  did  he  say,  *'  You  two  would  make  very  re- 
spectable advocates.     I  hope  Marcus  Piso  will  examine 


THE   CONFERENCES.  355 

witnesses  as  well  in  the  approaching  trials.  I  am  glad  to 
see  that  your  faith  in  Jesus  does  not  forget  the  claims  of 
reason.'' 

Here  a  parcel  was  brought  in  and  given  to  Rachel. 
"  From  my  mother/'  she  exclaimed,  as  she  glanced  at 
the  superscription.  "  This  doubtless  contains  further 
news   of  the   Christ  that  will  interest  us  all.     Let  us 


see." 


She  broke  the  seals.  In  a  moment  she  became  so  ab- 
sorbed in  her  reading  that,  evidently,  she  was  quite  ob- 
livious of  her  surroundings.  Her  face  became  a  mirror 
behind  which  appeared  the  whole  changing  heaven  of  her 
moods  and  feelings.  The  first  glance  at  the  •  letter 
brought  a  shadow  on  the  beaming  countenance.  As  she 
went  on  the  shadows  deepened  apace — as  when  clouds 
add  themselves  to  clouds  in  advance  of  the  storm.  At 
last  the  storm  itself  came.  Her  face  became  a  picture  of 
mingled  astonishment,  compassion,  indignation,  and  dis- 
may. She  dropped  the  letter  on  the  floor,  exclaiming, 
^''Can  it  he  I  Where  is  the  Almighty  Avenger  I "  And  the 
tears  streamed  between  her  fingers  as  she  buried  her  face 
in  her  hands. 

Seti  and  Aleph  had  both  watched  her  changing  ex- 
pressions with  alarm — had  both  risen  and  were  now 
standing  by  her  side. 

*'What  dreadful  thing  has  happened,  my  child?" 
asked  Seti. 

**  They  have  murdered  Him — murdered  Him — have 
murdered  the  Christ!  "  she  exclaimed:  then  turning  to 
Aleph,  ''And  you  were  right.  You  feared  the  worst,  and 
the  worst  has  come.  Can  there  be  a  bright  side  to  such 
a  ^picture? 


>> 


356  THE  CONFERENCES. 

She  tried  to  brush  away  the  tears  that  she  might  bet- 
ter see  the  expression  of  his  face. 

He  said  gently,  "  I  think  I  can  conceive  of  a  brighter 
side  even  to  such  a  terrible  picture.  But  I  see  that  you 
have  not  finished  your  reading.  Perhaps  the  remainder 
of  the  letter  will  contain  the  brighter  side."  He  took  it 
up  from  the  floor  and  handed  it  to  her. 

Thus  encouraged,  she  resumed  her  reading.  Almost 
immediately  a  change  appeared  on  her  face.  Her  eyes 
opened  widely  with  a  new  wonder,  and  beamed  with  a 
new  light.  As  she  went  on  the  shadows  thinned  away  as 
fast  as  they  had  thickened ;  the  light  and  sweetness  grew 
apace  as  does  the  fairest  morning ;  and  at  last  the  sun 
rose  on  every  lovely  feature  as  she  finished  the  manuscript 
and  exclaimed,  God  be  2)raisecl — there  is  indeed  a  hrighter 
side  ! 

She  turned  to  Aleph,  "  You  are  right  again.  Jesus 
lives.     He  has  passed  through  death  to  his  throne." 

''  I  do  not  think,"  said  he,  "  that  you  are  now  able  to 
read  to  us  the  whole  wonderful  account  as  your  mother 
has  written  it.  But  perhaps  you  can  give  us  a  briefer  ac- 
count in  your  own  words — suiting  the  length  to  your 
strength,  and  passing  lightly  over  details  that  have  tried 
you  most." 

"I  will  try.  But  I  think  that  I  could  not  even  do 
this  were  it  not  for  the  strength  and  courage  which  this 
last  reading  has  given  me." 

After  a  moment  she  proceeded:  "  From  the  time  of 
the  resurrection  of  Lazarus  the  chief  men  at  Jerusalem, 
with  two  exceptions,  have  been  bent  on  the  death  of 
Jesus.  On  the  niglit  ])efore  the  Passover,  they  sent  an 
armed  force  to  Gethsemane,  where  he  was  praying,  ar- 


THE   CONFERENCES.  357 

rested  him,  took  him  to  the  palace  of  the  high-priest, 
went  through  a  form  of  trying  him  for  blasphemy,  con- 
demned him  (two  only  objecting),  then  hurried  him 
to  Pilate  the  governor;  and  so  importuned  and  wor- 
ried and  threatened  the  reluctant  Roman  that  he  at  last 
consented,  but  not  until  they  had  taken  on  themselves 
and  their  children  the  whole  guilt  of  the  deed,  to  con- 
demn him  to  the  cross.  Then  followed  mocking,  and 
buffeting  and  scourging.  Then  in  the  early  morning,  ac- 
companied by  many  weeping  and  wailing  friends  and  a 
mob  of  howling  and  exulting  enemies,  the  soldiers  took 
him  to  Calvary  and  there  crucified  him  between  two  rob- 
bers. Oh,  the  cruel,  cruel  spikes !  Oh,  the  more  cruel 
jeers  and  mockings  and  tauntings  and  railings  of  the  sol- 
diers— and  even  of  his  fellow  sufferers !  They  evidently 
were  suffering  far  less  than  he.  Those  familiar  with  cru- 
cifixions had  never  before  seen  such  agony.  All  the  signs 
of  an  inexpressible  anguish  were  in  both  face  and  form. 
And  once  he  uttered  a  cry  so  terrible  that  Nicodemus, 
who  heard  it,  said  that  it  would  haunt  him  to  his  dying 
day.  He  had  never  heard  the  like  before :  never  could 
bear  to  hear  the  like  again.  He  is  fully  persuaded  that 
the  sun  in  all  his  circuits  had  never  looked  down  on  such 
mortal  agony,  because  it  was  the  agony  of  Ilim  on  whom 
*  God  laid  the  iniquities  of  us  all.'  In  fact,  the  sun  re- 
fused at  length  to  look  on  the  awful  scene  any  longer. 
He  had  climbed  over  the  eastern  hills,  and  up  to  the 
zenith,  with  undimmed  face,  when,  all  at  once,  he  disap- 
peared. For  three  hours  the  darkness  of  God  was  over 
the  whole  land.  Men  could  hardly  see  one  another. 
But  the  darkness  of  men  was  still  greater  than  the 
darkness    of    God.     They    still    continued   to    cast    at 


358  THE   CONFERENCES. 

Jesus  tlirougli  the  lurid  dimness  the  stones  of  their 
derision  and  insult  until  the  end.  At  the  ninth 
hour  the  great  Victim  died — praying  for  his  enemies. 
Then  the  earth  quaked  mightily.  Ancient  rocks  that 
had  defied  men  and  time  broke  in  pieces  before  the  silent 
cross.  The  veil  of  the  temple  was  rent  in  twain  by  un- 
seen hands.  Even  dead  men  came  from  their  graves^,  to 
meet  Jesus  as  he  descended  into  his.  ^  Truly, ^  said  the 
centurion  who  had  the  crucifixion  in  charge,  '  truly  this 
tvas  the  So7i  of  God  / ' 

*'  When  all  was  over,  the  disciples  smote  their  breasts 
and  returned  to  the  city,  filled  with  horror  and  almost 
despair.  Who  could  have  thought  it !  Is  there  really  no 
humanity  on  earth,  and  no  divinity  in  Heaven !  Is  this 
the  end  of  their  hopes — this  the  end  of  their  long  and 
fondly  expected  kingdom  of  God !  From  the  towering 
summits  of  faith  to  the  depths  of  doubt  and  misery — 
what  a  fall !  My  mother  was  not  able  to  see  the  more 
immediate  disciples  for  two  or  three  days;  for  she  \vas 
crushed  in  both  body  and  heart :  but  Nicodemus  kept  her 
informed  as  to  everything.  Besides,  she  knew  how  they 
were  feeling  from  knowing  how  she  felt  herself.  She 
was  prostrated  before  the  awful  mystery.  She  was  dazed 
and  almost  incapable  of  thought  under  the  mighty  shock. 
And  yet  she  had  at  the  bottom  of  her  heart  a  feeling  that 
this  could  not  be  the  end.  God  cannot  be  so  defeated  by 
man. 

"  So  much  for  the  tragedy.  Had  this  been  all  that  my 
mother  wrote  I  could  never  have  smiled  again.  Her  ac- 
count filled  me  with  shame  and  horror  and  wrath.  It 
seemed  to  me  that  God  would  have  been  just  if  he  had  at 
once  smitten  those  murderers  into  the  lowest  Tophet. 


THE   CONFERENCES.  359 

God  forgive  me !  but  I  almost  felt  as  if  I  could  do  it  my- 
self. I  felt  as  if  I  belonged  to  an  accursed  and  doomed 
race.  Yes,  I  felt  as  if  I  could  never  smile  again.  But 
you  see  that  I  can  (and  her  face  wet  with  tears  shone  out 
upon  him,  with  bewildering  radiance) ;  and  it  is  because 
the  tragedy  has  a  triumph  for  its  sequel. 

"  On  the  third  day  after  the  crucifixion  Nicodemus 
came  home  in  great  excitement,  saying  that  the  Roman 
guard  which  Pilate,  at  the  solicitation  of  the  Jewish  chiefs, 
had  set  about  the  tomb  where  the  body  of  Jesus  had  been 
placed,  came  into  the  city  early  in  the  morning  and  re- 
ported to  the  chiefs  with  scared  faces  and  trembling  lips 
that  One  with  a  form  bright  as  the  lightning  had  flashed 
down  from  the  sky  in  their  sight,  rolled  away  the  stone 
from  the  door  of  the  sepulchre,  and  sat  upon  it.  They 
fell  to  the  earth,  and  became  as  dead  men.  When  they 
came  to  themselves  they  found  the  angel  gone  and  the 
tomb  open  and  empty.  Great  was  the  perplexity  of  the 
leaders  on  hearing  this ;  but  they  finally  resolved,  Nico- 
demus and  Joseph  of  Arimathea  protesting,  to  fortify  one 
crime  by  another,  and  gave  a  large  sum  of  money  to  the 
soldiers  to  say  that  the  body  was  stolen  while  they  slept. 
This  recalled  vividly  to  my  mother's  mind  what  Jesus 
had  once  said,  but  which,  in  common  with  the  other  dis- 
ciples, she  had  taken  as  having  some  figurative  meaning, 
^A7id  the  third  day  I  loill  rise  agaiii.' 

"  Soon  after,  one  of  the  maids  of  the  house,  who  also 
was  a  disciple  and  had  been  out  at  the  market,  came 
hastily  home,  saying  that  some  of  the  apostles  and  others 
had  seen  angels  at  the  sepulchre  who  told  them  that  Jesus 
had  risen — had  even  seen  Jesus  himself  and  spoken  with 
him.     My  mother  could  no  longer  restrain  herself,  but 


360  THE   CONFERENCES. 

liurried  away  to  a  place  where  the  disciples  were  wont  to 
gather;  and  found  many  assembled.  The  room  was  in  a 
fever  of  restless  pacings  to  and  fro,  of  eager  questionings 
and  answerings.  Seen  him?  Spoken  with  him?  Sure 
there  is  no  mistake?  Peter  and  certain  women  were  in 
great  request,  for  they  could  say  Yes  to  all  such  ques- 
tions. The  joy  of  assured  conviction  shone  in  some 
faces ;  a  hope  that  still  feared  in  others.  It  seemed  too 
good  to  be  true.  Thomas,  one  of  the  Twelve,  declared  it 
could  not  be  true :  there  must  be  some  delusion  in  it — 
either  of  the  senses,  or  the  nerves,  or  the  imagination. 
He  would  not  believe  without  the  concurrent  witness  of 
at  least  three  senses.  He  had  scarcely  said  this,  when, 
though  the  doors  were  closed,  they  saw  Jesus  himself 
standing  among  them  with  the  well-known  form  and  feat- 
ures and  voice ;  and  he  said  to  Thomas,  *  Reach  hither 
thy  finger  and  behold  my  hands;  and  reach,  hither  thy 
hand  and  thrust  it  into  my  side ;  and  be  not  faithless  but 
believing.'  Thomas  broke  down  at  once.  Doubt  was 
impossible.  Not  a  ray  of  hesitation  remained  with  any. 
None  understood  the  sublime  march  of  events;  none 
knew  what  prodigies  were  yet  to  come,  whether  his  ene- 
mies would  now  be  swept  away  and  a  visible  Divine  King- 
dom set  up,  or  not ;  but  of  this  all  were  sure  that  he  who 
had  died  on  the  cross  was  again  alive  among  them.  And 
they  rejoiced  with  exceeding  great  joy — though  the  joy 
yet  felt  the  swell  and  tossing  of  the  just  departed  storm. 
"  Since  then  my  mother  has  seen  the  Messiah  several 
times.  But  he  never  shows  himself  to  the  people  at 
large.  It  is  now  understood  among  the  disciples  that  in 
a  short  time,  after  meeting  them  in  Galilee,  he  will  re- 
turn to  Heaven — leaving  his  disciples  to  preach  in  his 


\ 


THE   CONFERENCES. 


3G1 


name  forgiveness  of  sins  to  all  nations  who  will  repent 

and  believe.'' 

"I  think  I  will  read  to  you,"  added  Rachel,  "the 
last  page  or  two  of  the  letter,  that  you  may  see  what 
views  are  now  being  held  by  those  immediately  about 
Jesus  as  to  his  person  and  work."     She  read: 

"  Now  we  all  know  that  my  thought  was  right— that 
his  death  was  an  atonement  for  the  sins  of  all  men ;  and 
that  the  victims  which  have  been  offered  from  the  begin- 
ning were  only  types  of  this  great  Victim.     And  I  say  to 
myself.  What  must  be  the  nature  and  dignity  of  him 
whose  death  can  atone  for  all  human  sin?     Must  he  not 
be  Divine  as  well  as  human?     Must  he  not  be  God  mani- 
fest in  the  flesh?     Who  else  could  make  so  mighty  an  ex- 
piation?—who  else  save  he  of  whom  it  is  written,  'And 
the  government  shall  be  upon  his  shoulder,  and  his  name 
shaU  be  called  AVonderful,  Counsellor,  the  mighty  God, 
the  Everlasting  Father,'   and  who  has  said  of  himself, 
'  I  and  my  father  are  one? ' 

"  I  cannot  return  home  just  yet— much  as  I  wish  to 
see  you  and  others.  This  great  opportunity  of  seeing 
and  hearing  for  a  brief  time  longer  the  Redeemer  of  the 
world  is  too  precious  to  be  sacrificed.  Besides,  the  suc- 
cessive tides  of  grief  and  joy  have  so  shaken  me  that  I 

am  unfit  to  travel. 

"  Read  what  I  have  written  to  your  dear  grandfather. 
Oh,  that  he  were  here— his  fairness  of  mind  and  penetra- 
tion would  be  sure  to  place  him  on  the  side  of  Jesus. 

"  Of  course  I  have  written  the  same  things  to  your  dear 
father  and  brothers  at  Rome— hoping  that  amid  their 
great  schemes  of  business  and  ambition  they  will  find 
room  for  faith,  my  faith.     May  they  not  be  among  '  The 


362  THE   CONFERENCES. 

rulers  who  take  counsel  together  against  the  Lord  and 
against  his  Anointed? '  As  to  you  I  have  no  doubt,  even 
though  the  lot  of  Esther" — the  maiden  broke  off  ab- 
ruptly with  a  flush  and  a  shudder,  and  busied  herself 
for  a  little  in  adjusting  the  leaves  of  the  manuscript. 

This  letter  led  to  a  long  conversation ;  I  should  say  to 
long  conversations.  Daily,  for  many  days,  Aleph  came 
to  his  friends ;  and  daily  the  great  theme  was  Jesus  the 
Christ.  Seti  never  failed  to  be  present,  and  never  failed 
to  be  silent — save  when  a  brief  inquiry  could  bring  light. 
But,  the  day  before  the  trials  were  to  begin,  he  was  absent, 
arranging  last  things  with  his  lawyer.  Miriam  also  was 
absent. 

The  unfailing  and  unwearying  topic  of  topics  again 
came  up;  and  after  a  delightful  talk  about  the  past  and 
the  future  of  the  Messianic  history,  Aleph  inquired  about 
the  attitude  of  Seti. 

''My  own  impression  has  been,"  said  he,  "that  it 
was  better  for  a  mind  like  his,  so  fair  and  penetrating 
and  judicial,  to  be  left  largely  to  feel  its  own  way  to  the 
truth.  So  I  have  made  no  formal  effort  to  commend  our 
own  faith  to  him — save  by  shaping  my  inquiries  of 
Miriam  and  our  talks  with  each  other  so  as  to  furnish 
answers  to  questions  which  a  great  and  philosophic  mind 
would  naturally  ask  on  its  way  to  a  just  conviction. 
Have  I  been  right  in  this?" 

"  I  think  so,"  she  answered.  "  Such  men,  my  father 
says,  must  convince  themselves.  The  most  we  can  do  is 
to  get  the  material  for  judgment  within  their  reach. 
And  I  think  we  have  done  this  successfully  in  the  case  of 
my  grandfather.  Ilis  miiui  is  open  to  evidence  from  all 
quarters,     lie  has  no  national  or  race  prejudices.     He 


THE   CONFERENCES.  363 

married  a  Caucasian  princess ;  and  was  willing  that  my 
mother  shouhl  marry  a  Hebrew.  Signs  are  not  wanting 
to  me  that  his  judgment  is  slowly  but  surely  settling  in 
favor  of  Jesus,  not  only  as  a  divine  messenger,  but  even 
as  an  incarnation  of  the  One  God.  And  yet  I  do  not 
think  that  he  has  any  idea  of  relinquishing  his  position 
as  primate  of  the  Egyptians." 

"I  see  no  reason  why  he  should,"  returned  Alei^h. 
"  He  holds  the  original  Egyptian  position  in  matters  of 
faith ;  also  that  of  the  higher  priesthood  all  through  the 
Egyptian  history.  He  fairly  represents  the  religion  of 
the  land  as  it  was  when  his  office  was  established :  his 
predecessors  have  wrongfully  used  their  joower  to  change 
the  ancient  faith  and  practice ;  he  can  rightfully  use  his 
power  to  restore  it.  Meanwhile,  he  is  acting  no  part ;  he 
is  perfectly  frank  and  outspoken  as  to  his  views  and  ob- 
jects; his  function  requires  of  him  no  endorsement  of 
idolatry  or  even  a  refusal  of  the  Hebrew  Scriptures  and 
their  Messiah.  He  could,  to-day,  say  to  his  College  of 
Priests,  not  only  that,  like  the  far-back  fathers,  he  be- 
lieves in  one  Infinite  God  who  only  is  to  be  worship2:)ed 
with  Divine  honors,  but  also  that  he  believes  that  this 
God  has  just  appeared  in  the  person  of  Jesus — he  could 
freely  say  all  this  and  his  subordinate  priests  would  not 
be  stumbled.  So  I  think  that  no  law,  human  or  divine, 
requires  him  to  surrender  the  advantages  of  his  position 
in  favor  of  some  one  who  would  promote  the  national 

apostasy  instead  of  reforming  it But  I  could  wish 

to  see  him  pronounced  in  favor  of  Jesus  before  I  leave 
the  country."" 

"  That,  I  trust,  will  not  be  soon?  '^  said  Kachel,  with 
a  startled  look. 


3G4  THE   CONFERENCES. 

"As  soon  as  these  trials  are  fairly  over,  I  sup- 
pose." 

*'What!  '*  she  exclaimed  with  a  look  of  dismay,  "I 
thought  you  would  remain  a  long  time,  studying  our  in- 
stitutions, enlarging  your  knowledge  of  the  Western 
World,  especially  getting  an  inside  view  of  our  Univer- 
sity life  and  teachings.  Be  persuaded  to  remain — a  long, 
very  long  time.  Seti  had  rather  lose  all  the  rest  of  the 
University.  I  do  not  think  he  could  be  persuaded  to 
part  with  you  at  all.  And  I  think, ^'  she  stammered, 
"  all  your  friends  here  feel  very  much  the  same." 

He  replied,  "  My  father  did  not  propose  for  me  a  long 
stay  in  this  city.  Through  my  Greek  precej^tor  I  was  al- 
ready considerably  acquainted  with  the  matters  you  men- 
tion. They  have  been  merely  collaterals  to  two  main 
purposes — which  were,  first,  to  learn  what  could  be 
learned  about  the  Messiah  who,  as  my  father  believed, 
was  born  at  Bethlehem  some  thirty  years  ago;  and, 
second,  to  investigate  the  proceedings  of  Mains.  As  side 
issues  my  father  wished  me  to  get  such  improvement  as 
a  young  man  might  from  seeing  the  world,  and  from  be- 
ing under  the  necessity  of  judging  and  acting  for  himself 
among  all  sorts  of  men  and  under  all  sorts  of  conditions. 
And  as  soon  as  the  great  objects  of  my  visit  could  be  ac- 
complished he  wished  me  to  return.  I  am  an  only  child : 
the  father  wishes  to  see  his  son,  and  the  son  wishes  to  see 
the  father.  And  if  I  can  return  through  Judea  and  see 
the  Messiah,  and  carry  away  from  him  to  my  parents  a 
blessing,  I  shall  consider  my  mission  accomplished.  But 
it  will  cost  me  something — very  much  indeed — to  go 
away,  even  though  it  be  homeward.  I  never  expected  to 
Snd  such  friends  in  Alexandria  as  I  have  found;  and,  as 


THE   CON^FERENCES.  365 

the  day  approaches  for  me  to  say  farewell  to  them,  I  find 
I  am  approaching  one  of  the  greatest  trials  of  my  life. 
What  wonderful  kindness  they  have  shown  the  nameless 
stranger  who  could  not,  consistently  with  his  father's 
wishes,  furnish  the  commonest  letter  of  introduction! 
And  what  delightful  hours  have  I  spent  in  this  house 
with  one  whose  views  and  feelings  on  the  most  important 
of  all  subjects  have  harmonized  so  completely  with  my 
own !  Yes,  it  will  cost  me  much  to  go  away — I  did  not 
know  how  much  till  I  received  yesterday  a  letter  of  recall 
from  my  father  (his  lip  quivered) ;  and  I  doubt  whether 
I  have  even  now  a  full  sense  of  the  bitterness  that  will 
come  in  saying  last  words.  But,  if  they  must  be  said,  it 
is  doubtless  better  that  they  be  said  a  week  hence  than  at 
some  remoter  time.  I  feel  that  my  heart  is  less  and  less 
under  my  control  Avith  every  passing  day.  You  see  (he 
added  with  a  sad  smile)  that,  if  there  were  no  other  rea- 
sons, I  must  go  away  to  escape  from  you :  Rachel  is  too 
mighty  for  Aleph  the  Chaldean.  When  one  cannot  con- 
quer it  is  best  to  leave  the  field." 

"Flight  is  disgraceful,"  exclaimed  Rachel  with 
sparkling  eyes.  "  i^etter  die  on  the  field.  But  I  will  be 
merciful  to  my  captive.     He  shall  live." 

"  To  be  dragged  at  your  chariot  wheels — to  grace  the 
triumph  of  her  at  whose  feet  lies  the  empire  of  the 
West?"     He  rose. 

She  also  rose  and  came  toward  him.  "  You  are  quot- 
ing; or  you  are  thinking  of  a  distant  somebody  of  whom 
you  have  heard  and  whom  you  have  despised.  Surely 
you  are  not  thinking  of  7ne.  It  is  true,  if  I  must  say 
it,  that  I  have  been  ofl:'ered  the  Roman  purple  in  the  per- 
son of  the  heir-apparent ;  and  that  to  day  the  elders  of 


306  THE   CONFERENCES. 

my  people  have  been  here  to  urge  my  acceptance  of  the 
})roposals — for  the  public  good.  I  listened  to  what  they 
had  to  say  and  was  silent — following  the  counsel  of  my 
grandfather.  But  to  you  I  will  not  be  silent.  I  have 
never  seen  Germanicus,  and  never  want  to  see  him.  The 
empire  of  the  West  will  have  to  wait  long  at  my  feet  be- 
fore I  take  it  up.     I  will  have  none  of  it.     I  had  rather 

die.'' 

She  hesitated  a  moment  and  then  went  on,  while  a 
celestial  blush  spread  a  new  loveliness  over  every  feature, 
"  So  you  see  that  you  need  not  go  away  to  escape  from 
me.  The  daughter  of  Alexander  was  glad,  beyond  meas- 
ure, to  hear  that  she  was  beloved  by  Alepli  the  Chal- 
dean. She  accepts  his  love  and  gives  him  as  large  in  re- 
turn." 

Even  Aleph  could  be  transfigured.  And  it  was  noth- 
ing less  than  a  transfiguration  that  now  took  place  in  his 
face  at  this  frank  declaration.  Rachel  had  seen  that  face 
in  many  moods  of  thoughtfulness,  watchfulness,  resolve, 
pity,  gratitude,  command ;  but  she  had  never  before  seen 
it  radiant  with  joy.  Now  she  saw  it — wonderingly  and 
blissfully  saw  it.  All  the  flood  gates  of  the  morning 
seemed  suddenly  opened  in  his  face.  Such  eloquence 
beamed  upon  her  from  that  illuminated  page  that  she 
needed  no  voice  to  interpret  it.  But  a  voice  came — with 
a  curious  accent  of  surprise  and  inquiry. 

"  Can  it  be  that  I  hear  aright?  Can  it  be  that  the 
greatest  good  fortune  of  my  life  thus  far  has  come  to  me 
to  day ;  and  that  the  maiden  for  whose  favor  princes 
strive  can  give  her  heart  and  hand  to  one  who  is  to  her 
merely  Aleph  the  Chaldean — the  unknown?" 

"You  are  not  uuknown,"  she  replied  with  a  face  as 


THE    CONFERENCES.  3C7 

radiant  and  transfigured  as  his  own.  "It  is  true  that  I 
do  not  know  whether  you  are  rich  or  poor,  whether 
prince  or  peasant,  but  this  I  know,  that  in  yourself  alone 
you  deserve  the  warmest  love  that  woman  can  give ;  and 
I  give  it.  You  shall  be  my  emperor.'' 
-    "What  will  Seti  say?" 

"  He  will  say  as  I  do — proud  old  Pharaoh  as  he  is." 

"What  will  your  father  say — the  rich,  the  ambi- 
tious?" 

"  He  will  say  as  Seti  says  till  he  comes  to  know  you 
better ;  and  then  he  will  say  as  I  do.  Much  as  he  values 
money,  I  happen  to  know  that  he  values  merit  more." 

' '  What  will  the  city  say  ?  That  the  Gem  of  Alexan- 
dria, who  might  have  chosen  the  greatest  and  best  in  the 
land,  and  even  been  mistress  of  the  AYest,  has  thrown 
herself  away  on  a  nameless  adventurer?" 

"  Perhaps.  But  I  do  not  propose  to  marry  to  suit 
the  city." 

In  a  moment  she  found  herself  in  his  arms,  and  felt 
his  warm,  lingering  lips  on  her  forehead.  She  looked  up 
at  him  archly  and  said : 

"And  what  will  ?/o?^r  father  say?" 

"Ah,  that  is  a  very  serious  question!"  he  answered 
with  a  smile;  "  but  fortunatoly  I  can  answer  it  better  to- 
day than  I  could  have  done  yesterday.  This  morning  I 
saw  Cimon,  and,  on  my  telling  him  my  feelings  toward 
you,  he  surprised  me  by  saying  that  it  was  my  father's 
hope  that  during  my  absence  I  might  find  among  the 
chosen  people  some  suitable  maiden  to  share  my  lot  and 
be  to  him  a  daughter — that  his  wandering  Jacob  might 
somewhere  find  a  Rachel.  And  Cimon,  from  whom  I 
have  kept  nothing,  is  satisfied — nay,  more,  is  delighted. 


368  THE   CONFERENCES. 

So  thus  I  answer  your  question.  My  father  will  say  as 
Cinion  does,  and  Cimon  will  say  as  I  do." 

How  long  Aleph  tarried  at  this  unwatered  wine  I  do 
not  know ;  but  I  happen  to  know  that  he  did  not  become 
so  intoxicated  but  that  he  could  hold  a  long  business  con- 
sultation afterward  with  Piso  and  Seti  about  the  trials 
that  were  to  begin  the  next  day. 

He  was  driving  the  chariot  of  the  sun ;  but  he  held 
the  fiery  coursers  well  in  hand. 


XVI. 
THE    BASILICA. 

Of  6e  (^Uac  ^eivoto    kuI  evi^noioi  dt6ovoiv,   rolai  Tedrj^f  TTo7aq. 

Hesiou,  Worl-H.  223. 
Those    who  administer  the   laws  with  justice   to  foreigners   and 
natives— by  these  the  city  flourishes. 


1.  Before  tine  courts. 

2.  Is  Thiemis  blind? 

3.  Kiat  ji-istitia. 

4.  Bu.a.t  caelu.m. 


XVI. 

THE    BASILICA. 

THE  courts  of  Alexandria  were  held  in  the  great 
Basilica  at  the  intersection  of  Emporium  Street 
with  the  Street  of  Canopus. 

Among  the  Romans,  subject  peoples  were,  as  far  as 
possible,  left  to  be  governed  by  their  own  laws  and  cus- 
toms. Accordingly  all  suits  between  persons  of  the 
same  nation  were  first  tried  by  their  own  judges.  An 
appeal  could  be  taken  from  these  to  a  Roman  court. 
Also,  the  case  went  to  a  Roman  court  if  the  judges  failed 
to  agree  on  a  verdict. 

The  suit  of  Mains  against  the  two  brothers,  Shaphan 
and  Nathan,  for  the  non-payment  of  the  sum  they  had 
agreed  to  give  for  his  rights  in  their  khan-business, 
together  with  interest  on  the  same  for  nearly  thirty  years 
(time  did  not  outlaw  debts  in  Alexandria),  being  between 
Jew  and  Jew,  came  before  Jewish  judges,  who  happened 
to  be  equally  divided  between  the  two  chief  synagogues. 

In  suits  of  this  kind,  and  indeed  of  almost  every  kind, 
it  was  customary  for  the  more  immediate  friends  of 
either  party  to  give  him  moral  support  by  taking  seat 
with  him  in  the  court-room.  Of  course  Mains  was  not 
unprovided  with  sympathizers.  Nor  were  Shaphan  and 
Nathan.  On  their  side  of  the  room  sat  Seti  and  Aleph, 
as  well  as  some  of  the  principal  men  of  the  Diapleuston. 


372  THE   BASILICA. 

I  do  not  propose  to  give  a  detailed  account  of  pro- 
ceedings. Those  who  are  curious  about  the  formalities  of 
ancient  courts,  Jewish  or  Roman,  must  seek  for  them  in 
other  works.     I  touch  only  fastigia  verum. 

The  advocate  of  Malus  first  stated  briefly  the  accusa- 
tion. Then  Malus  made  oath  that  the  statement  was 
correct.  Next  the  defendants  made  oath  to  the  contrary. 
Then  Piso,  as  advocate  for  the  defendants,  proceeded  to 
question  Malus.  Was  it  not  possible  that  he  had  long 
ago  received  payment,  but  had  gradually,  through  press 
of  affairs  of  much  greater  consequence,  lost  sight  of  the 
fact  ?  Malus  replied  that  he  was  not  apt  to  be  forgetful  in 
business  matters  :  besides,  he  distinctly  remembered  hav- 
ing made  an  annual  application  in  writing  at  the  beginning 
of  each  year  for  the  sum  due  him,  to  say  nothing  of  many 
personal  applications.  He  was  prepared  to  furnish  wit- 
nesses to  the  fact  of  such  applications,  both  written  and 
oral,  during  a  full  quarter  of  a  century. 

Piso  inquired  why  he  had  not  brought  suit  before. 
Malus  replied  that  he  had  not  been  pressed  for  money ; 
but  that  the  leading  motive  for  his  long  delay  had  been 
mercy.  lie  hated  to  push  matters  to  extremities  ;  but 
had  at  last  come,  very  reluctantly,  to  feel  that  forbear- 
ance with  such  unscrupulous  persons  was  no  longer  a 
virtue,  but  rather  an  encouragement  to  wrong-doing. 

Here  his  advocate  suggested  that  he  probably  was  in 
the  habit  of  giving  a  receipt  for  moneys  paid  him. 

•^  I  always  do  it,''  he  said  promptly.  ''  Of  course  a 
receipt  is  always  expected  and  demanded  in  case  of  large 
payments.  If  the  defendants  had  paid  me  the  money 
due  they  would  have  demanded  a  receipt  and  I  should 
have  given  it.     Let  them  produce  my  receipt." 


THE   BASILICA.  373 

Malus  indulged  himself  with  what  he  meant  for  a 
smile,  which  was  broadly  imitated  by  his  party. 

*'  Do  you  recognize  this  ?  "  inquired  Piso,  producing  a 
discolored  sheet  of  papyrus,  and  handing  it  to  Malus. 
The  man's  hand  visibly  trembled  as  he  took  it ;  and  as  his 
eye  glanced  along  the  page  he  could  not  prevent  a  ripple  of 
dismay  from  passing  across  his  features.  But  it  was  gone 
in  an  instant. 

"  A  very  clever  forgery  ! '"  he  sneered. 

Piso  took  back  the  paper  and  handed  it  to  the  judges, 
together  with  some  letters  which  he  himself  had  received 
from  Malus  in  course  of  years  on  business  matters. 

"  The  honorable  judges  will  perceive,"'  said  he,  after 
a  few  moments  had  been  allowed  for  a  comparison  of  the 
papers,  '"that  if  the  receipt  is  a  forgery,  it  is  an  exceed- 
ingly clever  one — perhaps  will  perceive  that  it  is  so  clever 
that  none  but  an  expert  scribe,  who  has  made  a  close 
study  of  the  plaintiff's  handwriting  in  many  specimens, 
could  possibly  have  done  it.  This  is  what  the  leading 
scribes  in  the  city  tell  me,  and  are  here  to  testify.  But 
Shaphan  and  Nathan  are  not  skillful  scribes — as  you  may 
see  from  these  specimens  received  from  them  in  course  of 
business/' — and  he  passed  over  to  the  judges  a  parcel. 

After  a  few  moments  he  resumed.  *^  But  the  honor- 
able judges  should  further  notice  that  the  receipt  bears 
the  signatures  of  two  witnesses,  as  was  customary  years 
ago  in  transactions  of  such  magnitude.  These  witnesses 
have  given  me  some  trouble.  They  left  the  city  shortly 
after  signing  this  document,  and  I  could  not  find  any 
one  who  knew  where  they  were.  The  probability  was 
that  they  were  dead  ;  for  they  were  not  young  when  they 
disappeared,  and  thirty  years  make  havoc  with  old  people. 


374  THE   BASILICA. 

But  yesterday,  without  concert  and  from  opposite  direc- 
tions, they  for  the  first  time  returned  to  the  city — each 
drawn  by  a  mysterious  feeling  that  he  was  wanted  and 
must  not  stay  away.  They  are  in  this  room  now  ;  can 
be  identified  by  persons  here  present  who  formerly  knew 
them  well ;  will  testify  to  their  own  signatures,  and  anew 
to  the  well-remembered  fact  that  Mains  received  his 
money  in  their  presence." 

Turning  again  to  Malus,^  Piso  said,  ''You  say  that 
this  receipt  is  a  forgery — to  whom  do  you  attribute  the 
forgery  ?  " 

"  Oi  course  to  those  who  could  hope  for  advantage 
from  it — to  Shaphan  and  Nathan." 

''The  honorable  judges  and  all  here  present  will 
please  notice,"  exclaimed  Piso,  "that  Mains  has  publicly 
charged  my  clients  with  the  crime  of  forgery  ;  a  charge 
which  I  deny  in  their  name,  against  which  their  general 
repute  testifies,  and  for  which  I  propose  to  bring  suit 
against  him  at  fitting  opportunity.  He  shall  j^^^ovc  what 
he  now  asserts,  or  suffer  the  penalty  prescribed  by  law  to 
false  accusers.  Meanwhile,  my  clients  are  held  innocent 
by  the  law  as  not  yet  having  been  proved  guilty  ;  and 
this  case  must  be  decided  on  the  assumption  that  they 
have  not  committed  a  forgery." 

Of  course  the  advocate  on  the  other  side  was  voluble 
and  shrewd.  lie  had  not  practiced  in  the  school  of  Mains 
many  years  in  vain  ;  but  had  his  ways  of  making  the 
worse  appear  the  better — pushing  some  things  to  the 
front,  others  to  the  rear  ;  throwing  a  shadow  here  and  a 
glare  there  ;  slurring  over  this  and  dwelling  on  that  ; 
magnifying  little  things  and  dwarfing  great  ones — all 
after  the  manner  of  unscrupulous  advocates  in  every  age 


THE    BASILICA.  375 

The  result  was  that  the  four  judges  were  equally  divided 
— the  Diapleuston  pair  deciding  for  the  brothers,  the 
others  for  Malus.  So  the  case  went  the  next  day  to  the 
Roman  Court  held  in  another  room  of  the  same  Basilica. 

Malus  was  not  discouraged  by  this.  He  counted  on 
the  Flaccan  influence  being  in  his  favor ;  and,  quite  as 
much,  on  his  reputation  of  being  on  good  terms  with  the 
Roman  authorities.  He  hoj^ed  to  see  some  Romans  of 
standing,  who  might  be  supposed  inspired  by  Flaccus, 
occupying  seats  on  his  side  of  the  house  ;  also  to  get  from 
the  judges,  as  they  came  in  and  took  their  seats,  some 
furtive  glances  of  recognition  and  encouragement.  He 
was  disappointed.  Still,  official  people  have  to  be  prudent 
in  showing  their  favoritism  ;  and  he  still  hoped  that  the 
powerful  magnates  at  Bruchium  were  surely,  though 
secretly,  at  work  for  him. 

The  case  was  reviewed,  the  arguments  for  and  against 
were  repeated  without  material  change,  the  same  testimo- 
nies were  given  as  before — save  that  Piso  was  now  able  to 
bring  forward  witnesses  to  show  that,  when  his  clients 
informed  Malus  of  the  loss  of  the  receipt  and  asked  for 
another,  he  did  not  deny  having  given  one,  but  deferred 
giving  a  duplicate  just  then  because  of  press  of  business. 

The  verdict  was  against  the  jilaintiff. 

Malus  was  astonished  at  this  unusual  experience.  It 
was  a  blow  at  his  prestige.  There  was  no  telling  but  that 
other  victims  of  his  craft  and  greed,  encouraged  by  this 
defeat,  might  turn  upon  him.  Also,  it  looked  as  though 
his  Roman  friends  were  beginning  to  fail  him.  Still,  he 
was  a  man  of  audacity  ;  had  grown  into  a  vast  confidence 
in  himself  and  his  star  ;  believed  more  in  Simon  Magus 
and  his  pleasing  predictions  than  in   God  and   eternal 


376  THE   BASILICA. 

justice  :  moreover,  he  said  to  himself  that  the  Romans  in 
this  small  matter  were  trying  to  appear  impartial,  so  as 
to  break  the  force  of  public  criticism  and  susjoicion  when 
they  should  come  to  decide  for  him  in  the  larger  matters 
pending.  So  he  managed  to  keep  up  heart.  Does  not 
many  a  bright  day  begin  in  clouds  ?  Has  not  many  a 
victory  been  introduced  by  a  check  ? 

The  next  day  brought  on  his  suit  against  Cimon  the 
Greek — to  be  tried  in  the  same  j^lace,  before  the  same 
Judges  and  Praetor.  He  was  on  the  ground  very  early, 
with  an  enlarged  body  of  sympathizers  and  a  cheerful 
aspect.  His  friends  copied  his  example,  and  beat  the 
copy.  They  were  almost  hilarious.  They  thought  that 
it  would  help  to  gain  a  battle,  to  assume  it  to  be  already 
gained.  The  real  object  of  Malus,  however,  in  being  at 
the  Basilica  considerably  in  advance  of  time,  was  to  get, 
if  possible,  an  opportunity  to  convey  a  note,  or  a  word, 
through  some  sub-official  of  the  court,  to  one  or  more  of 
the  judges  before  they  took  their  seats.  This  he  was  able 
to  do  ;  for  he  made  it  worth  the  while  for  janitors  and 
pursuivants  to  oblige  him. 

When  the  Pr^tor  and  Judges  came  in  he  watched 
their  faces  for  some  auspicious  sign.  But  they  were  still 
very  prudent — unnecessarily  so,  he  thought.  In  his 
heart  he  cursed  them  for  it.  It  was  carrying  matters  quite 
too  far.  They  might  at  least  give  him  a  glance  that 
would  mean  much  to  him  while  not  compromising  them. 
But  they  did  not  even  look  his  way.  He  would  make 
them  sweat  for  it  some  day. 

Cimon,  whom  we  have  not  seen  for  too  many  days,  had 
come  in  escorted  by  two  officers  ;  whom,  however,  he 
seemed  escorting.     Seated  near  him  were,  not  only  Seti 


THE    BASILICA.  377 

and  Alcph,  but  also  Alexander,  who  had  arrived  from 
Rome  during  the  last  night,  together  with  a  large  delega- 
tion from  the  Diapleuston  Seventy.  This  was  not  a 
pleasant  sight  to  Malus  :  but  it  was  a  relief,  as  he 
looked  about  from  under  his  bushy  eyebrows,  to  see  seated 
with  his  own  company  several  Roman  officers  well  known 
as  the  intimates  of  Sextus  Flaccus.  *^^It  is  all  right," 
said  he  to  himself.  ^^It  is  all  wrong,"  said  the  thoughts 
on  the  other  side  of  the  house — with  a  few  exceptions. 
These  exceptions  said,  "  The  Lord  reigneth ;  I  will  not 
fear  what  man  can  do  to  me." 

According  to  custom,  the  court  opened  with  an  out- 
line-statement from  the  advocate  of  the  plaintiff.  The 
defendant  had  visited  the  warehouse  of  Malus,  was  shown 
by  his  conductor  through  the  department  of  eastern 
goods,  was  observed  to  notice  particularly  the  jewels. 
Soon  after  he  left,  and  before  any  other  person  had  come 
in,  the  young  man  who  had  conducted  him,  becoming 
disturbed  as  he  thought  of  the  suspicious  appearance  of 
the  stranger,  returned  to  the  jewelry  room  and  found  a 
certain  casket,  containing  gems  worth  fifty  thousand 
aureij  to  be  missing.  Whereupon  Malus  set  inquiries  on 
foot,  found  out  where  the  stranger  lodged,  obtained  a 
search  warrant,  found  the  casket  hidden  in  his  room  but 
empty,  and  had  him  arrested  for  theft.  His  client 
would  say  whether  this  statement  was  correct. 

According  to  custom,  Malus  made  oath  that  the  facts 
were  as  stated — made  oath  '^'^by  Ilim  who  reigns  in 
Heaven  " ;  for  such  was  the  blanket  oath  that  could  be 
taken  alike  by  the  man  who  believed  in  Jupiter,  or  in 
Zeus,  or  in  Osiris,  or  in  Jehovah. 

Then  Piso  outlined  his  defense.    ''  Some  facts  had  been 


378  THE   BASILICA. 

correctly  stated.  Cimon  did  visit  the  warehouse,  "Vvas 
conducted  through  the  jewelry  department,  did  notice 
the  cabinet  of  jewels  in  passing.  Also,  the  casket  was 
seemingly  found  in  his  room.  But  he  did  not  carry  it 
there.  That  was  done  by  the  agent  of  Mains  who  con- 
ducted the  searching  party,  in  order  to  make  out  a  case 
against  Cimon,  whom  Malus  had  reason  to  fear  and  wished 
to  discredit  and  remove.  His  client  would  say  whether 
the  facts  had  been  correctly  stated." 

Cimon  made  oath  that,  to  the  best  of  his  belief,  the 
facts  were  as  stated. 

Omitting  the  plea  for  the  plaintiff  which  cam6  next, 
the  witness-bearing  on  both  sides,  the  questionings  and 
cross-questionings  by  the  advocates,  I  will  give  a  sum- 
mary of  Piso's  plea,  which  came  last. 

He  began  with  gravely  ridiculing  the  idea  that  any- 
thing in  the  appearance  of  Cimon  should  have  suggested 
to  his  conductor  that  he  was  a  thief.  ^^The  Judges  can 
see  for  themselves  that  the  story  is  incredible.  So  far  as 
appearances  go,  there  is  not  a  man  here  less  likely  to  do 
what  has  been  charged  upon  him  than  Cimon,  the  Greek. 
Farther,  it  appears  from  the  testimony  of  the  Alabarch 
that  this  man,  whose  face  is  written  all  over  with  the 
natural  marks  of  honesty  and  high  character,  has  a  credit 
with  him  for  200,000  gold  staters  ;  and  so  is  a  very 
unlikely  person  to  steal  what  might  be,  as  everybody 
knows,  a  box  of  sham  jewels,  or  even  an  empty  box. 
Further,  the  Superintendent  of  the  jewelry  department 
has  testified  that  he  saw  the  casket  in  its  place  after 
Cimon  had  left ;  and  it  cannot  be  claimed  that  he  gave 
this  testimony  in  revenge  for  his  dismissal  from  his  post, 
because  lie  brought  me  the  information  before  the  dis- 


THE   BASILICA.  379 

missal  took  place.  Further,  the  young  man  called  Alepli 
the  Chaldean,  and  a  much  esteemed  member  of  the  Uni- 
versity, has  testified  that  he  was  present  when  the  search 
was  made,  and  actually  saw  the  Cretan  agent  of  Malus 
furtively  slip  the  casket  from  the  bosom  of  his  own  tunic 
as  he  pretended  to  grope  for  it  on  his  knees  in  the  dim- 
mer part  of  the  room  :  and  the  Cretan  himself,  at  last 
tired  of  the  wickedness  he  has  been  set  to  do,  and  fear- 
ing the  avenging  heavens  and  his  own  awaking  con- 
science, has  confessed  that  such  was  the  fact — that  Malus 
had  employed  him  to  play  that  part,  and,  lest  he  should 
be  tempted  to  run  away  with  the  casket,  had  opened  it  in 
his  presence  and  showed  that  it  was  empty,  instead  of 
containing  gems  to  the  value  of  50,000  staters. 

"  The  advocate  on  the  other  side  has  asked  what  possi- 
ble motive  could  Malus  have  for  attacking  maliciously  a 
stranger  who  had  never  crossed  his  plans,  or  even  his 
path,  till  a  few  days  ago.  That  point  was  well  taken. 
People  do  not  act  without  motive,  and  what  seems  to 
them  a  sufficient  motive  :  and  it  is  incredible  that  so 
shrewd  a  man  as  Malus  should  lay  a  plot  to  brand  Cimon 
as  a  thief,  and  shut  him  up  in  prison,  and,  in  default  of 
50,000  staters,  sell  him  into  slavery,  without  some  power- 
ful reason  for  doing  it.  And  such  reason  exists.  The 
plaintiff  had  become  aware  that  Cimon  had  unearthed  a 
gigantic  system  of  embezzlement  on  his  part  which 
threatened  to  destroy  his  reputation,  subject  him  to 
heavy  punishments,  and  sacrifice  a  large  part,  if  not  the 
whole,  of  his  fortune.  To  prevent  this  ruin  he  contrived 
this  plan  to  smutch  Cimon  as  a  low  criminal  whose 
accusation  was  unworthy  of  notice — also  to  remove  him 
from  view  and  possibility  of  action,  first  by  incarceration, 


380  THE   BASILICA. 

and  then  by  sale  into  some  distant  servitude,  as  our  laws 
permit  in  case  of  insolvent  debtors.  All  this  will  be 
proved  when  the  next  suit  in  order  shall  come  before  the 
court. 

^^  As  this  last  is  evidently  a  vital  point,  the  Pr^tor  and 
Judges  might  do  well  to  consider  whether  it  would  not  be 
well  to  reserve  their  decision  of  this  case  until  after  the 
suit  of  Cimon  against  Mains  has  been  tried.  They  can 
safely  be  promised  great  additional  light. ^^ 

Such,  for  substance,  was  what  Piso  said  in  a  much 
enlarged  form.  Strong  opposition  was  made  to  his  pro- 
posal for  postponement  by  the  Mains  party  ;  but,  after  a 
good  deal  of  mutual  consultation  on  the  part  of  the 
Praetor  and  Judges,  and,  as  the  day  was  already  far  spent, 
it  was  at  length  decided  to  reserve  the  decision  in  hope  of 
additional  light  on  the  morrow. 

Mains  was  now  thoroughly  roused.  Under  the 
stolid  and  uninterpretable  exterior  with  which  he  retired 
from  the  Basilica  everything  was  ablaze — all  his  shrewd- 
ness, all  his  determination,  all  his  wrath,  all  his  daring. 
He  was  a  born  gambler,  and  could  coolly  stake  every- 
thing on  a  last  throw.  To-morrow  he  7nust  conquer. 
To-morrow  he  tvould  conquer.  The  stars  should  fulfill 
themselves  by  fighting  for  him.  Simon  should  weave 
his  spells  and  summon  his  mightiest  spirits  all  the  live- 
long night  in  his  behalf.  But  he  would  not  neglect  to 
supplement  magic  with  all  the  human  expedients  for 
winning  success.  He  had  prospered  so  long  that  he  had 
come  to  feel  that  prosperity  was  both  his  destiny  and  his 
due.  He  had  made  people  his  prey  so  long  that  they 
seemed  made  to  be  victimized  :  he  had  the  right  of  a 
fisherman  to  draw  into  his  net  as  many  fishes  as  possible 


THE   BASILICA.  381 

by  all  possible  ways  and  means.  He  had  used  the  right 
freely,  made  many  captures,  and  hitherto  had  not  found 
a  captive  large  enough  to  break  through  his  net.  He 
determined  that  his  steady  run  of  good  luck  should  not 
fail  him.  He  spent  the  whole  night  with  his  lawyer 
— trying  to  forecast  the  course  of  accusation  and  evidence 
which  the  other  party  would  take,  and  the  best  ways  of 
resisting  the  same.  Among  these  ways  he  decided 
should  be  a  more  decided  and  potent  invoking  of  his 
Koman  friends  to  come  to  his  aid.  He  thoroughly 
believed  in  the  venality  of  every  Roman,  from  the  gov- 
ernor downward  or  upward.  Some  could  be  bought  for 
less  than  others — but  all  could  be  bought.  Perhaps  his 
hints  had  not  been  sufficiently  broad  :  perhaps  he  had 
not  hinted  at  sums  sufficiently  large  in  the  case  of  some. 
Now  he  would  mend  all  that.  The  governor  should  have 
an  offer  that  he  could  not  misunderstand  ;  and  one  that 
even  a  governor  would  find  it  worth  his  while  to  accept. 
So  of  the  city  Praetor  and  Judges.  Each  should  have  his 
gratification,  and  a  large  one.  It  would  be  costly  work  : 
but  then  he  could  easily  and  swiftly  reimburse  himself  if 
his  situation  could  be  made  secure.  Such  was  his  confi- 
dence, after  all,  in  the  sympathy  of  the  authorities  and 
in  the  power  of  money  that  he  was  able  to  face  the  new 
day  with  untrembling  nerves,  despite  the  vigils  of  the 
night.  Had  not  trusty  messengers  gone  in  all  directions 
with  instructions  to  make  all  sure,  sure — regardless  of  ex- 
pense ? 

The  Basilica  was  crowded  long  before  the  hour.  Malus 
had  with  him  all  his  friends  of  the  day  before,  and,  in  ad- 
dition, the  leading  men  of  liis  synagogue.  On  the  other 
side,  besides  those  of  the  day  before,  was  a  large  delega- 


382  THE    BASILICA. 

tioii  from  the  University,  with  Philo  and  Cornelius  at 
their  head — also  a  large  niunber  of  by  no  means  showy 
people,  apparently  small  traders  and  shop-keepers,  whose 
'^ moral  support"  the  students  seemed  at  first  inclined  to 
laugh  at,  but,  at  a  hint  from  Piso,  ended  in  making  much 
of.  Among  these  last  was  the  Phenician  of  Chapter  Sec- 
ond, sitting  between  his  Cretan  oppressor  and  Malus's 
discharged  clerk.  It  is  doubtful  whether  Mains  recog- 
nized these  persons — they  were  well  in  the  rear  ;  and  be- 
sides he  deigned  only  a  glance  at  the  nobodies,  being  on 
the  lookout  for  only  somebodies,  for  people  of  station  and 
weight  and  large  consideration.  Of  this  class  he  as  yet 
saw  no  addition  to  the  other  side,  save  the  students  ;  and 
them  he  was  prepared  to  see. 

It  was  now  almost  time  for  the  court  to  open,  when  an 
unusual  stir  was  heard  at  the  main  door  of  the  Basilica ; 
and  shortly  the  Governor  made  his  appearance,  attended 
by  several  sub-officials  and  supporting  his  son  Sextus. 
The  young  man  was  very  pale,  leaned  hard  on  his  father, 
and,  before  he  had  advanced  far,  became  faint  and  mo- 
tioned toward  the  first  vacant  seats  they  came  to — which 
chanced  to  be  on  Malus's  side  of  the  house.  Accordingly, 
the  party  fell  in  there,  and  busied  themselves  in  trying 
most  officiously  to  help  the  invalid — offering  this  and  that 
restorative,  making  this  and  that  inquiry,  and  generally 
making  him  as  miserable  as  they  could  well  do  by  shut- 
ting off  from  him  air  and  light  and  quiet. 

Mains  was  overjoyed.  Plainly  his  last  move  had  been 
a  successful  one.  The  powers  had  at  last  shown  their 
hand.  Now  he  was  6'?^re  what  the  result  of  the  trial  would 
be.  He  shot  a  glance  of  triumph  at  Piso  ;  and  was  in  the 
act  of  rising  to  go  and  pay  his  respects  to  his  excellency 


THE   BASILICA.  383 

and  offer  his  services  toward  making  the  sick  man  still 
more  uncomfortable,  when  the  voice  of  the  crier  was 
heard,  loudly  demanding  order  and  announcing  the  open- 
ing of  the  court.  He  looked  at  the  tribunal.  The  Praitor 
and  Judges  were  already  in  their  places.  So  the  best  he 
could  do  was  to  throw  toward  his  Roman  friends,  so  op- 
portunely arrived,  as  much  of  a  mingled  look  of  concern 
and  sympathy  and  welcome  as  his  wooden  face  would 
permit. 

According  to  Roman  forms,  the  advocate  of  the  plain- 
tiff first  stated  briefly  his  accusation.  Some  thirty  years 
ago  a  merchant  from  Chaldea  visited  the  city ;  made  Mains 
his  agent  for  the  sale  of  certain  costly  goods  to  be  sent  to 
him  from  time  to  time  ;  and,  from  that  time  to  this,  made 
frequent  and  heavy  consignments — at  first  satisfactorily, 
but  with  growing  dissatisfaction  as  the  years  went  on,  on 
account  of  the  smallness  of  the  returns  ;  this  smallness 
being  ascribed  by  Mains  partly  to  losses  in  transit  from 
shipwreck  and  robberies,  partly  to  enormous  custom-house 
exactions,  and  partly  to  poor  markets.  Finally,  the  suspi- 
cions of  the  merchant  became  so  strong  that  he  sent  his 
friend  Cimon  to  Alexandria  to  make  inquiries  and  to  take 
such  action  as  his  representative  as  should  seem  fitting. 
Inquiries  had  shown  that  the  statements  of  Mains  were 
false  at  all  points — the  receipts  which  he  had  given  as  har- 
bor-master show  that  all  the  goods  sent  have  been  received 
in  good  condition  ;  the  registers  of  the  custom  house, 
Avhich  his  excellency  the  Governor  lias  allowed  to  be  ex- 
amined, show  that  only  a  part  of  the  goods  received  have 
been  entered  for  duty,  and  that  the  duty  actually  paid  on 
the  part  entered  has  been  far  less  than  reported  (as  also 
appears  from  the  testimony  of  the  chief  of  the  custom 


384  THE   BASILICA. 

house)  :  finally,  the  testimouy  of  the  leading  houses  en- 
gaged in  the  eastern  trade,  including  that  of  Malus  him- 
self, shows  that  the  market  price  for  nearly  all  the  thirty 
years  has  been  far  higher  than  Malus  has  reported.  Proof 
of  all  these  statements  would  be  submitted  at  the  proper 
time.  In  view  of  them  it  appears  that  Malus  is  indebted 
to  Cimon,  the  agent,  in  the  sum  of  one  million  gold 
staters,  exclusive  of  the  interest  which  the  law  allows  in 
such  cases.  The  Judges  could  now  see  why  Malus  could 
wish  to  discredit  Cimon  as  a  low  criminal  and  remove 
both  him  and  his  companion  from  the  scene.  It  was  to 
discredit  and,  if  possible,  prevent  a  suit  that  threatened 
him  with  ruin  of  both  fortune  and  reputation. 

Did  the  plaintiff  accept  these  statements  as  correct  ? 
Cimon  accepted. 

Then  the  advocate  of  Malus  briefly  denied  the  charge, 
and  stated  as  chief  points  of  the  defense — that  the  harbor- 
receipts,  beyond  those  for  goods  actually  found  registered 
at  the  custom  house,  are  forgeries  ;  that  what  purported 
to  be  Malus's  accounts  to  his  Chaldean  principal  of  exor- 
bitant duties  and  poor  markets  were  also  forgeries ;  that 
very  many  of  his  accounts  and  remittances  had  been  ig- 
nored ;  that,  instead  of  owing  the  Chaldean  anything,  he 
had  dealt  with  him  on  a  principle  of  large  liberality,  and 
had  paid  him  considerably  more  than  he  could  equitably 
claim.  He  expected  to  show  that  his  client  was  the  ob- 
ject of  a  great  conspiracy — that  people  whom  nobody 
knew,  whose  very  names  were  fictitious,  and  who  cer- 
tainly had  no  visible  standing  and  reliability,  had  con- 
spired to  rob  and  ruin  a  man  of  the  first  standing  ;  and 
had  craftily  taken  advantage  of  old  feuds  and  religious 
diifcrences  to  secure  abettors.     The  case  was  really  one 


THE   BASILICA.  385 

between  the  allegations  of  nobodies  and  those  of  a  promi- 
nent and  honored  citizen. 

Did  the  defendant  accept  these  statements  ?  Mains 
accepted. 

Here  Sextus  Flaccus  struggled  to  his  feet,  and  with 
the  help  of  his  father  and  the  well-meant  hindrance  of 
the  other  Romans  about  him,  feebly  and  slowly  made  his 
way  to  the  opposite  benches.  Mains  was  yet  standing 
and  saw  every  movement.  He  had  just  finished  one 
oath — and  he  felt  like  taking  another.  It  was  with  dif- 
ficulty that  he  commanded  himself  enough  to  sink  quietly 
into  his  seat.  What  could  this  mean  ?  Had  his  agents 
betrayed  him  ?  Had  the  stars,  and  the  magic  spells,  and 
the  mighty  demons,  and  even  Avilleus  Flaccus  at  last 
failed  him  ?  He  was  almost  stunned  by  the  sudden  fall 
from  the  heights  of  confidence  to  the  depths  of  discour- 
agement. 

As  soon  as  the  room  was  again  quiet,  Piso  produced 
his  documents  and  witnesses.  After  these  had  been  can- 
vassed by  both  parties,  Piso  proceeded  to  sum  up  for 
Cimon  somewhat  after  this  manner  : 

''^  It  is  a  very  easy  thing  to  cry  'forgery'  and  'con- 
spiracy.' Anybody  can  do  that,  provided  he  has  no  con- 
science. I  demand  that  my  client  be  proved  a  forger  and 
conspirator.  Until  that  is  done  he  has  a  legal  right  to 
be  considered  innocent. 

''I  happened  to  foresee  what  course  the  defense 
would  take,  and  so  was  very  glad  to  meet,  yesterday, 
in  the  city,  the  Superintendent  of  Customs  at  Myos 
Hermos.  This  man,  who  has  held  his  post  for  more 
than  forty  years,  and  is  well  known  to  the  authorities 
here  as  reliable  beyond  question,  has  testified  that  all  the 


/ 

/ 


386  THE   BASILICA. 

parcels  of  goods  which  we  claim  to  have  been  sent  from 
the  East  were  duly  received  and  recorded  at  his  port,  and 
thence  forwarded  to  Alexandria,  and  acknowledged  by 
Mains  as  harbor-master.  This  settles  the  matter.  Ma- 
ins has  received  in  good  condition  all  the  goods  sent  him 
— his  sworn  denials  and  charges  of  forgery  to  the  con- 
trary notwithstanding. 

*^Jnst  here  I  call  the  attention  of  the  Judges  to  a 
noteworthy  fact :  we  did  not  send  for  this  venerable  wit- 
ness from  My  OS  Hermos.  Though  we  thought  of  him 
and  wanted  him,  we  knew  that  we  could  not  bring  him 
in  time  for  the  trial.  How,  then,  does  it  happen  that 
he  is  here  so  opportunely  ?  You  have  heard  his  explana- 
tion. He  had  no  particular  business  of  his  own  to  draw 
him  to  the  city,  nor  was  he  aware  of  the  jiresent  suit ; 
only  he  felt  i:)ressed  and  drawn  to  be  here  on  a  certain 
day  by  a  mysterious  influence  which  he  was  afraid  to 
resist.  It  looks  as  if  the  very  Heavens  themselves  were 
concerned  to  have  justice  done  in  this  case. 

''  We  have  seen  that  Mains  received,  in  good  condi- 
tion, all  the  goods  sent.  Only  one  question  remains : 
Has  he  duly  accounted  for  them  all  to  his  principal  ? 
The  accounts  which  have  been  submitted  to  the  Court — 
accounts  apparently  in  his  own  handwriting,  and  which 
leading  experts  pronounce  to  be  genuine — say  No.  They 
say  that  many  parcels  have  never  been  received  ;  that 
others  came  to  hand  in  a  damaged  condition  ;  that  the 
duties  on  almost  all  received  were  much  larger  and  the 
market-prices  much  smaller  than  the  actual.  But  Mains 
declares  that  these  accounts  are  not  genuine  :  they  are 
clever  counterfeits,  gotten  up  for  the  purpose  of  robbing 
and  ruining  him.     The  accounts  which  he  actually  sent 


THE    BASILICA.  387 

were  very  different,  and  correctly  represent  duties  and 
prices  and  everything.  All  this  he  simply  asserts.  He 
makes  no  attempt  to  iwove  his  assertion  :  and  I  might 
well  content  myself  with  a  simple  counter-assertion.  But 
I  will  not  do  this.  He  says  that  he  has  sent  to  the  East, 
accounts  correct  in  every  particular,  which  have  been 
suppressed.  To  this  I  answer  that  all  such  accounts, 
with  remittances,  imply  as  many  acknowledgments  from 
the  receiver.  No  merchant  here,  least  of  all  Malus,  would 
go  on  sending  accounts  with  moneys,  year  after  year  for 
thirty  years,  without  getting  acknowledgments  for  the 
same  in  the  handwriting  of  the  receiver  or  his  authorized 
proxy.  Let  Malus  produce  such  acknowledgments.  He 
cannot  do  it.     He  has  none  to  present. 

'^^  But  Malus  alleges  that  the  case  is  one  of  contest  of 
reputations.  It  is  the  assertion  of  a  Nobody  against  the 
denial  of  a  Somebody.  The  word  of  an  unknown  for- 
eigner ought  not  to  have  any  weight  against  the  word  of 
that  eminent  citizen  and  saint  whom  everybody  in  Alex- 
andria knows,  and  knows  to  be  full  of  riches  and  honors 
and  virtues — the  man  who  has  never  wronged  anybody ; 
has  never  ground  the  faces  of  the  poor  ;  has  never  sought 
to  take  advantage  of  Shajihan  the  Jew,  or  Atlion  the 
Phenician,  or  Epimetes  the  Greek,  or  Plautus  the  Ro- 
man, or  anybody  else  under  the  wide  heaven.  Here, 
behind  me,  are  a  few  of  the  peojile  he  has  dealt  with, 
ready  to  testify  that  Malus  is  not  tlie  sort  of  man  to  com- 
mit smuggling,  to  swear  falsely,  or  even  to  be  less  than 
most  merciful  to  those  in  his  power  !  Would  Malus  like 
to  hear  from  some  of  his  victims  ?  " 

On  this  Sextus  Flaccus  rose,  and  slowly,  with  feeble 
voice  and  many  a  pause,  proceeded  to  say  that  he  was  a 


388  THE   BASILICA. 

victim,  though  not  an  innocent  one.  No  doubt  many 
were  surprised  to  see  him  there,  and  still  more  surprised 
to  see  him  in  that  part  of  the  room.  All  Alexandria 
knew  that  he  had  long  been  intimate  with  Mains,  and 
must  know  not  a  little  of  his  principles  and  practices. 
Indeed  he  had,  he  was  asliamed  to  say,  to  a  certain  extent 
shared  in  them.  What  sort  of  life  he  had  lived,  disgrace- 
ful to  himself  and  his  friends,  was  notorious.  It  was  not 
necessary  for  him  to  specify — he  would  spare  himself  that 
pain.  But  this  he  must  say,  that  in  all  his  follies  and 
sins  he  was  always  encouraged  and  often  prompted  by 
Mains.  His  intemperance,  his  violence,  his  enmities,  had 
always  been  fanned  by  that  man  to  the  utmost. 

Without  any  help  from  Mains,  he  had  been  very  hos- 
tile to  Cimon  the  Greek,  and  Aleph  the  Chaldean.  The 
latter  had  hurt  his  pride,  and  so  humbled  him  in  the 
presence  of  others  that  he  burned  for  revenge.  Mains 
whetted  his  passion,  and  prompted  him  to  measures  for 
gratifying  it  which,  bad  as  he  was,  he  would  not  other- 
wise have  thought  of. 

'^  Mains  proposed,"  continued  Sextus,  after  pausing 
to  recover  breath,  '^that  we  make  common  cause  against 
the  two  men.  He  told  me  frankly  what  reason  he  had 
to  fear  them,  and  dwelt  artfully  on  the  reasons  I  had  for 
being  revenged  upon  them.  He  tried  to  make  me  feel 
that  we  had  a  common  interest  in  humbling  and  su])- 
pressing  them.  He  plied  me  with  wine.  This  and  the 
violence  of  my  passions  for  a  while  carried  me  away  and 
made  me  a  ready  tool  in  his  hands. 

"  But  I  have  changed  my  mind.  I  have  been  at 
death's  door  ;  and  the  light  that  came  to  me  from  behind 
it  has  shown  me  three  things  :  my  own  folly  and  guilt. 


THE   BASILICA.  389 

the  utterly  nnscrupulous  character  of  my  tempter,  and 
the  thorough  goodness  of  at  least  one  of  the  men  (and 
presumably  of  his  friend  and  preceptor)  whom  we  had 
been  seeking  to  injure — may  Heaven  forgive  me,  as  he 
has  done  !  To  him  I  owe  my  life  and  an  opportunity  to 
mend  my  ways.  We  had  sought  to  dishonor  him,  and 
he  knew  it.  We  had  done  our  worst  to  give  him  a  felon^s 
name  and  fate,  and  he  knew  it.  And  yet  he  delivered 
me  from  my  enemies,  rescued  me  from  death,  nursed 
back  my  flickering  life  with  the  carefulness  of  a  mother. 
I  will  tell  the  whole  painful  story,  if  Mains  chooses  to 
have  me ;  but  it  would  be  to  his  disadvantage  as  well  as 
to  my  shame.  I  propose.  Heaven  helping  me,  to  mend 
my  ways  after  thus  publicly  confessing  the  sin  of  them. 
I  advise  Mains  to  do  the  same.^' 

Sextus  sank  into  his  seat  exhausted.  The  silence  that 
followed  for  a  few  moments  thundered.  What  eyes  were 
not  turned  on  Aleph  were  fastened  on  Mains.  But  the 
wooden  face  said  nothing ;  only  the  wood  was  several 
shades  darker  than  usual. 

Piso  resumed  :  ^'^The  testimony  we  have  just  heard  is 
as  weighty  as  it  was  unexpected.  What  Sextus  Flaccus 
has  now  said  about  the  principles  and  practices  of  Mains 
has  long  been  said  under  breath  by  great  numbers  who 
have  dealt  with  him.  It  is  well  understood  in  the  city 
that  Mains  is  not  a  man  to  stop  at  any  safe  way  of  accom- 
plishing his  purposes  of  gain,  or  any  other  purposes.  A 
whole  army  of  victims  would  appear  against  him,  if  it 
could  be  understood  that  it  would  be  safe  to  do  so — 
would  have  appeared  long  ago  but  for  the  conviction 
that  the  monster  tliat  devours  them  is  too  big  a  monster 
and  too  well  fenced  by  his  scales  to  be  successfully  at- 


390  THE    BASILICA. 

tacked,  or  even  complained  of.  He  is  the  successor  of 
the  Lernean  Hydra,  from  whom  all  but  Hercules  felt 
compelled  to  hide. 

"  This  is  the  eminent  citizen  who  thinks  that  name- 
less Nobodies  ought  not  to  have  their  testimony  taken  as 
against  him.  I  admit  that  Cimon  the  Greek  and  Aleph 
the  Chaldean  were  strangers  here  a  few  days  ago,  and  are 
still  strangers  to  most  of  our  people.  And  yet  they  have 
found  means  so  to  introduce  themselves  to  the  confidence 
of  some  of  our  most  honorable  citizens  that  these  citi- 
zens are  willing  to  vouch  for  them  :  in  which  case  they 
stand  before  the  law  and  the  public  with  all  the  prestige 
of  their  sponsors. 

^'^  But  I  am  unwilling  to  have  my  clients  rest  their 
claim  to  respectability  and  consideration  on  the  dignity 
of  any  other  people,  however  high,  who  are  willing  to 
vouch  for  them.  It  is  unnecessary.  They  have  an  hon- 
orable standing  of  their  own.  It  is  written  in  their  very 
faces  and  bearing.  Who  is  Cimon  the  Greek  ?  It  ap- 
pears from  this  certified  copy  of  the  records  of  the  Uni- 
versity that  thirty  years  ago  a  young  man  with  that  name 
and  of  illustrious  Athenian  descent  greatly  distinguished 
himself  above  all  his  companions  in  all  branches  of  learn- 
ing and  gentlemanly  accomplishment.  This  young  man 
is  Cimon  the  Greek — as  two  of  the  older  teachers  in  the 
University  have  been  able  to  recognize  and  are  here  to 
testify. 

*^  And  who  is  Aleph  the  Chaldean  ?  You  have  only 
to  look  upon  him  to  know  that  he  is  Somehody :  how 
much  of  a  body,  so  far  as  social  standing  is  concerned, 
this  packet  which  I  now  take  up  from  the  table  ought  to 
tell.     Those  of  you  who  sit  near  me  can  see  that  the  seal 


THE   BASILICA.  391 

is  yet  unbroken.  I  now  break  it ;  and,  on  removing  cer- 
tain wraps,  come  to  this  "  (he  held  up  to  view  a  roll  of 
vellum  richly  blazoned  and  bearing  a  broad  seal).  ^'  This 
document  is  bordered  with  many  jewels,  the  value  of 
which  some  of  yon  can  judge  of  better  than  myself,  but 
which  yet  my  limited  knowledge  of  such  matters  assures 
me  to  be  quite  great  enough  to  authenticate  the  written 
contents.  So  costly  a  credential  as  this  is  beyond  the 
reach  of  an  impostor,  and  was  doubtless  chosen  for  this 
reason.     What  are  the  contents  ?  " 

He  paused,  and  read  in  silence.  Then,  holding  up 
the  vellum  so  as  to  display  the  seal,  he  resumed  : 

*'  This  seal  bears  on  it  the  figure  of  a  crown.  The 
script  is  in  three  languages — Latin,  Greek,  and  Chal- 
dean.    I  will  read  the  Greek  : 

*''T0   ALL   WHOM   IT   MAY   CONCERN": 

'' '  I,  Jasper  Daniel  Atropates,  King  of  Median  Atro- 
patene  and  pontiff  of  the  Most  High  God,  foreseeing  that 
occasion  may  arise  for  such  a  document  as  this,  do  here- 
by certify  that  the  bearer  is  my  only  son.  Prince  Aleph 
Daniel,  whom  I  send  with  his  Greek  preceptor  and  my 
chief  counsellor  into  Egypt  for  purposes  altogether  peace- 
ful, viz.  :  to  study  the  institutions  and  learning  of  the 
West,  to  enlarge  his  knowledge  of  life  and  man,  and  to 
act  for  me,  in  conjunction  with  his  companion,  in  all  my 
business  affairs  in  that  land. 

''  *  To  this  I  affix  the  seal  of  my  kingdom.' 

"Such  is  the  document,"  said  Piso,  handing  it  to 
the  Judges  for  inspection.  After  a  few  moments  he 
resumed  : 

"In  explanation  of  this  document,  I  would  remind 


392  THE   BASILICA. 

the  Court  that  Atropatene  is  a  Chaldean  kingdom  of 
great  beauty  and  fertility,  unassailably  entrenched  among 
the  mountains  of  Media,  where  for  five  hundred  years 
have  ruled  the  descendants  of  the  Hebrew  prophet  Dan- 
iel, to  whom  it  was  given  by  Cyrus  the  Persian,  and  to 
whose  descendant  Atropates  it  was  confirmed  by  Alex- 
ander the  Macedonian.  The  monarchs  of  this  dynasty 
have  not  thought  it  beneath  themselves  to  do  as  did  Sol- 
omon the  Magnificent — to  engage  in  commerce  with  for- 
eign countries  and  make  the  superfluities  of  one  land 
supply  the  deficiencies  of  another.  Accordingly,  when, 
thirty  years  ago,  Jasper  with  two  other  princes  passed 
through  the  land,  he  arranged  with  Mains,  then  not  so 
well  known  as  he  is  now,  to  receive  and  dispose  of  such 
eastern  goods  as  might  be  sent  him  by  way  of  the  Eed 
Sea,  Myos  Hermos,  and  Coptus.  Malus  did  not  know 
that  his  employer  was  a  sovereign  :  probably  has  never 
known  it  till  now.  This  is  the  man  whom  he  has  de- 
frauded— trusting  that  the  remoteness  of  his  principal 
would  secure  him^  from  detection.  But  the  Heavens 
have  decreed  against  him — the  Heavens  which  he  seems 
to  have  forgotten." 

The  advocate  of  Malus  made  only  a  brief  reply.  He 
dealt  in  generalities.  He  asserted  and  reasserted  in  many 
forms,  and  with  much  strength  of  voice,  the  innocence 
of  his  client.  Whatever  the  appearances  against  him, 
they  were  deceptive.  To  get  at  real  facts  we  often  have 
to  go  below  the  seemings.  Wise  men  have  to  be  on  their 
guard  against  even  their  own  senses.  He  would  not  con- 
demn the  notable  citizens  and  officials  who  had  given 
their  support  to  the  other  side  :  at  the  same  time,  he 
must  be  allowed  to  say  that  they  have  made  a  grave  mis- 


THE   BASILICA.  393 

take.  They  have  been  misled  by  circumstantial  evidence, 
as  many  other  intelligent  and  upright  men  have  been. 
He  had  no  doubt  but  that  they  would  some  day  see  their 
mistake,  and  be  sorry  for  it.  How  would  they  like  to 
have  their  own  reputations  and  fortunes  fall  a  prey  to 
some  plausible  adventurer  ?  He  hoped  that  they  would 
never  come  to  that ;  but  it  now  looked  as  if  no  man's 
fortune,  or  even  life,  would  henceforth  be  safe  in  Alex- 
andria. He  trusted  that  the  eminent  Judges  would  see 
the  peril  to  which  they  and  all  people  of  consideration 
are  exposed,  and,  by  their  verdict,  discourage  attacks  on 
prominent  men,  to  which  envy  and  cupidity  so  strongly 
tempt. 

It  Avould  not  be  surprising  if  his  client,  amid  the 
pressure  and  anxieties  of  so  large  and  varied  business, 
had  sometimes  made  mistakes,  sometimes  been  forgetful, 
and  even  sometimes  been  overborne  and  distracted  to  the 
point  of  irresponsible  insanity.  In  such  circumstances 
he  may  have  done  things  which,  in  his  right  mind,  he 
never  would  have  done.  In  the  conduct  of  great  and 
complicated  affairs  the  strain  on  the  mind  is  often  very 
great ;  and,  for  his  part,  he  wondered  that  it  did  not 
give  way  oftener  than  it  did.  He  hoped  that  the  Judges 
would  take  these  considerations  into  account  in  making 
up  their  verdict ;  and  would  not  ruin  one  of  their  own 
citizens  for  the  sake  of  a  foreigner,  whether  prince  or 
l^easant.  A  verdict  against  Malus  would  send  a  large 
sum  out  of  the  country,  never  to  return.  Alexandria 
would  be  impoverished  for  the  sake  of  Chaldea. 

So  the  case  was  submitted.  The  Judges  conferred 
among  themselves  for  a  few  moments,  and  then  one  of 
them  spoke  in  a  low  tone  to  the  Praitor. 


394  THE   BASILICA. 

Tlic  public  crier  summoned  attention,  and  the  Prae- 
tor announced  : 

"■  I.  The  Judges  have  decided  that  the  suit  of  Malus 
against  Cimon  is  unsustained,  and  order  that  the  defend- 
ant, discharged  from  custody,  receive  damages  to  the 
amount  of  50,000  staters,  the  estimated  vakie  of  the 
jewels  said  to  have  been  stolen. 

*^II.  Also,  the  Judges  have  decided  that  the  suit  of 
Cimon  against  Mahis  is  sustained  ;  and  order  that  the 
latter  pay  to  the  former  the  arrears  for  thirty  years  as 
determined  by  certain  dealers  in  eastern  goods,  hereafter 
to  be  designated,  in  view  of  the  actual  duties  and  prices 
during  that  period,  and  counting  as  genuine  both  the 
harbor  receipts  of  Malus  and  his  accounts  to  his  princi- 
pal as  they  have  been  shown  here. 

"  III.  Also,  it  is  ordered  that  Malus  be  taken  into  cus- 
tody until  the  payment  now  decreed  has  been  made,  and 
until  it  has  been  legally  determined  whether  he  is  guilty 
of  the  crime  of  smuggling.     LiciTUM  est  Decedere." 

Aleph  and  Cimon  were  overwhelmed  with  congratu- 
lations. The  Governor  pressed  them  to  become  his 
guests  and  occupy  a  vacant  palace  at  Bruchium  ;  but 
they  excused  themselves,  and  begged  to  be  allowed  to 
return  unceremoniously  with  Seti  to  the  Serapeum. 
They  were  unable,  however,  to  return  as  inconspicuously 
as  they  wished  :  for  the  delegation  of  students,  with  Cor- 
nelius at  their  head,  insisted  on  escorting  them,  and 
cheering  crowds  gradually  gathered  about  them,  and 
before  they  reached  the  temple  they  met  nearly  the  whole 
enthusiastic  membership  of  the  University,  whom  noth- 
ing could  i)i-event  from  rending  the  air  and  shaking  the 
city  with  cries  of  ''Long  live  Aleph  the  Prince!'' 


THE   BASILICA.  395 

Who  were  they  who  said  that  poetical  justice  is  always 
done  ill  this  world?  Ah,  I  remember — they  were  the 
friends  of  Job.  Who  were  they  who  said  that  poetical 
justice  is  never  done  in  actual  life  .^  No  matter  :  who- 
ever said  it  smote  facts  in  the  face.  I  mean  such  facts  as 
are  recorded  in  this  chapter  :  also  such  as  are  recorded  in 
the  Bible  history  of  Joseph,  but  especially  of  Daniel  the 
prophet,  the  great  ancestor  of  our  Aleph,  against  whose 
fortunes  the  floods  of  wrong  not  only  surged  in  vain,  but 
floated  them  up  to  higher  levels. 

Under  the  sun,  the  race  is  not  always  to  the  swift, 
nor  the  battle  to  the  strong,  nor  bread  to  the  wise,  nor 
riches  to  men  of  understanding,  nor  favor  to  men  of 
skill.  Sometimes  good  men  have  to  wait  long  for  their 
due — sometimes  even  into  the  next  world.  Of  course, 
sooner  or  later  justice  will  be  done.  As  sure  as  there  is 
a  God  in  Heaven,  justice  must  be  done,  sooner  or  later. 
But  we  are  always  thankful  when  it  is  done  sooner — 
when  a  good  man  does  not  have  to  wait  for  his  due  till  he 
is  dead  ;  when  some  Daniels  and  Aleph-Daniels  are  not 
only  recompensed  in  the  earth,  but  find  the  feet  of  jus- 
tice not  so  heavily  weighted  but  that  they  can  reach  their 
goal  within  a  few  days  of  the  starting.  The  weak  in  faith 
then  thank  God  and  take  courage. 


XVII. 

THE    CONCLUSION. 

Orav  EVTvxvou/jLei^  Tore  j^cipttv   rtapeoTol. 

Sophocles,  Eledi-   1299. 

When  we  shall  succeed,  then  is  the  time  to  rejoice. 


1.  Neittier  impotent  nor  lanne. 

2.  Eachi  to  hiis  own.  place. 

3.  By  way  of  Jesias. 

4.  Honme. 


XVII. 

THE    CONCLUSION, 

WERE  it  not  for  a  most  conspicuous  example,  now 
and  then,  of  large  success  in  committing  an  en- 
terprise to  God  and  then  mightily  trusting  His  Provi- 
dence, faith  would  lack  a  very  desirable  inspiration. 

In  the  case  of  our  Chaldean  friends,  the  success  was 
very  large  indeed.  As  we  all  soon  come  to  know,  many 
good  enterprises  end  in  complete  failure.  Only  a  few  at- 
tain complete  success,  and  realize  all  they  proposed  to 
themselves.  Still  fewer  surpass  their  aim,  and  accom- 
plish far  more  than  they  expected  or  ventured  to  hope. 
Yet  such  was  the  enterprise  of  Cimon  and  Aleph  in  Alex- 
andria. 

What  had  they  proposed  to  themselves?  To  investigate 
Mains,  and  bring  him  to  justice ;  to  gather  reliable  infor- 
mation concerning  Him  who  was  born  king  of  the  Jews 
and  to  whom  the  miraculous  star  had  guided  the  Magian 
sovereigns;  to  broaden  and  enrich  the  education  of 
Aleph,  not  only  by  giving  him  a  wider  outlook  on  tlie 
world  and  humanity,  but  by  throwing  him,  divested  of 
all  the  insignia  and  glamour  of  his  rank,  entirely  on  his 
own  resources  for  guidance  and  help  in  dealing  with  men 
in  U'^w  and  difficult  circumstances.  All  these  objects  had 
been  accomplished. 


400  THE   CONCLUSIOl^'. 

Within  a  few  days  from  the  close  of  the  trial  the 
authorities  had  placed  in  the  hands  of  Cimon  the  full 
amount  of  his  claim  against  Malus^,  together  with  inter- 
est on  all  delayed  payments.     This,  in  itself,  was  not 
sufficient  to  ruin  the  rogue  financially.     But  he  had  al- 
ready drawn  considerably  on  his  resources  in  his  attemj^t 
to  bribe  the  judges  and  secure  the  countenance  of  other 
influential  people :   for   they  had  not  hesitated  to   take 
silently  his  gifts  though   no  equivalent  was   rendered. 
But  the  greatest  drain  upon  him  came  from  another 
quarter.     Other  victims  of  his  rapacity,  encouraged  by 
the  result  of  Cimon's  suit,  attacked  him  successfully; 
and  before  long  it  seemed  as  if  there  would  be  no  end  to 
the  suits.     Under  these  circumstances,  Alexandria  was 
not  much  surprised,  one  fine  morning,  to  hear  that  Malus 
(latterly  they  had  fallen  into  the  way  of  calling  him 
Pessimus)  was  nowhere  to  be  found — nor  any  of  his  re- 
maining assets.     The  guard  set  upon  him  was  not  incor- 
ruptible, and  he  had  disappeared  between  two  days.     No 
one  knew  where  he  had  gone.     Some  said  to  Ethiopia; 
some  said  to  Spain ;  some  said  to  Marseilles  in  Gaul ;  and 
some  would  have  it  that  he  had  taken  to  the  desert  with 
Draco.     A  few  declared  that  he  had  committed  suicide. 
This  last  supposition,  however,  was  considered  extremely 
improbable,  on  the  ground  that  so  shrewd  a  person  would 
not  take  the  trouble  to  carry  away  with  him  goods  which 
he  did  not  mean  to  use.     There  is  no  use  for  current 
money  of  the  merchant  in  Hades.     Whatever  supposition 
was  correct,  it  is  certain  that  Malus  never  reappeared  in 
Alexandria. 

But  our  friends  had  a  still  more  important  object  in 
coming  to  the  commercial  metropolis  of  the  West.     It 


THE   CONCLUSION.  401 

was  to  learn  about  llim  who  was  born  king  of  the  Jews. 
Some  things  they  already  knew  from  the  Magi — that  his 
coming  was  divinely  heralded  and  accompanied  by  super- 
natural events,  that  his  mission  was  a  great  and  glorious 
one,  having  significance  for  all  nations.  AVhat  had  they 
learned  in  addition?  That  the  life  which  had  opened  so 
grandly  amid  the  ministries  and  songs  of  angels,  and  the 
worship  and  gifts  of  star -led  pilgrims,  had  come  to  a 
still  grander  sequel — that  into  the  glowing  dawn  had  at 
length  come  the  sun  in  his  strength ;  a  mingled  glory  of 
miracles  and  character  and  teaching  such  as  never  before 
gathered  about  a  single  life — that  Jesus  is  surely  the 
Messiah  of  the  Sacred  Books  and  their  sufficient  creden- 
tial— that  this  Messiah  is  not,  as  has  been  commonly 
supposed,  a  secular  warrior,  conqueror,  and  king ;  but  a 
spiritual  monarch  ruling  over  willing  hearts  in  the  inter- 
est of  truth  and  righteousness,  and  whose  victories  are 
salvations — that  his  mission  in  the  world  is  one  of  humil- 
iation instead  of  exaltation,  of  suffering  instead  of  pleas- 
ure, of  death  instead  of  life ;  and  that  in  dying  he  com- 
pleted a  vicarious  sacrifice  for  the  sins  of  the  world — 
also,  that  to  express  the  dignity  of  his  being  both  the 
prophets  and  himself  use  language  which  exalts  him  far 
above  angels  and  claims  for  him  a  Divine  nature.  To 
know  all  this  was  a  great  gain,  more  than  they  had  ven- 
tured to  hope.  And  if,  on  their  way  home,  they  should 
be  able  to  see  the  Messiah  with  their  own  eyes,  witness 
personally  some  wonderful  work,  and  obtain  for  them- 
selves and  theirs  his  personal  benediction,  they  would 
feel  that  their  way  had  been  wonderfully  prospered. 

And  then  the  educational  object  which  the  father  of 
Aleph  distinctly  proposed  to  himself — was  that  object 


402  THE   CONCLUSION. 

well  secured?  How  well  Alei^h  carried  himself  when 
thrown  on  his  own  resources  for  guidance  we  have  seen ; 
and  my  belief  is  that  when  his  parents  come  to  see  him 
and  to  hear  the  report  of  Cimon,  they  will  be  quite  satis- 
fied with  their  experiment.  They  will  realize  that  the 
promising  bud  has  beautifully  flowered,  that  the  rare 
plant  which  had  started  and  grown  so  thriftily  in  their 
sheltered  and  sunny  conservatory  was  now  hardy  enough 
to  be  transplanted  into  the  open  field,  and  even  to  the 
windy  summits  of  life. 

So  all  the  ends  proposed  in  the  visit  of  our  friends  to 
Alexandria  were  accomplished — and  more.  For  these 
unknown  men  had  been  the  means  of  introducing  not 
only  a  loftier  moral  element  into  the  student  life  of  Alex- 
andria, but  had  so  drawn  upon  Cornelius  and  Metellus, 
who  had  specially  attached  themselves  to  them,  that  they 
had  begun  to  study  the  Septuagint,  to  frequent  the  ser- 
vices at  the  Diapleuston,  to  admire  the  sublime  mono- 
theism and  hopes  of  the  Jew,  and  finally  to  give  sure 
token  of  becoming,  the  one  the  devout  Cornelius  of  the 
Acts  of  the  Apostle  and  the  other  one  of  those  Christians 
saluted  by  Paul  as  belonging  to  "Aristobulus'  house- 
hold." 

But  the  influence  of  Aleph  on  Sextus  Flaccus  \vas  still 
more  remarkable.  His  frequent  interviews  with  that 
penitent  man  ended  not  only  in  his  thorough  reform, 
and  in  his  renouncing  idolatry,  but  also  in  his  accepting 
Jesus  as  a  Divine  sacrifice  for  sin. 

And  it  was  on  this  wise.  The  young  Roman  at  first 
was  terribly  oppressed  with  a  sense  of  sin.  He  could 
hardly  say  too  much  against  himself.  His  misdeeds  and 
follies  haunted  him  like  ghosts,  and  hunted  him  like 


THE    CONCLUSION.  403 

the  Eumenides.  Their  horrible  faces  scowled  at  him, 
their  serpent-hair  hissed  and  leaped  at  him,  their 
clenched  hands  shook  themselves  at  him  from  behind 
almost  every  object  he  saw.  Sometimes  in  his  sleep 
he  would  see  a  mountain,  traced  all  over  in  fiery  char- 
acters with  the  names  of  his  sins,  moving  swiftly  to- 
ward him;  and  he  would  wake  drenched  in  sweat  and 
terror  as  the  ponderous  masses  came  rushing  in  upon 
him  and  buried  him  thousands  of  feet  beneath  their  mu- 
nitions of  rocks.  At  other  times  he  dreamed  that,  like 
Andromeda,  he  was  chained  to  a  rock  at  the  ocean's  edge, 
and  that  great  storm-billows  in  long  succession  were 
sweeping  in  upon  him,  and  that  on  the  crested  summit  of 
each  a  great  sea-monster  with  lurid  eyes  and  open  jaws 
came  rushing  and  shrieking  Sin,  Sin,  SIN.  He 
shrieked  as  loudly — and  awoke  in  despair. 

It  was  in  this  state  that  he  first  sent  for  Aleph.  His 
first  sense  of  relief  came  when  Aleph  told  him  the  story 
of  Jesus,  and  suggested  the  idea  of  a  Divine  incarnation 
and  atonement  for  sin.  The  wretched  man  clutched  the 
idea  as  a  drowning  man  does  a  plank.  Here  was  some- 
thing solid  to  rest  upon.  Here  was  a  sufficient  sacrifice 
for  even  his  enormities.  The  weight  began  to  lift  from 
his  oppressed  breast.  At  last  one  day  as  Aleph  was  read- 
ing to  him  the  sublime  description  which  Isaiah  gives  in 
his  53d  chapter  of  Him  on  whom  '*  were  laid  the  iniqui- 
ties of  us  all,"  a  mighty  deliverance  came.  Suddenly  all 
his  doors  and  windows  sprang  open  musically  to  welcome 
Jesus  as  the  Lamb  of  God.  The  sense  of  need  opened 
them.  From  that  day  the  sick  body  mended  wonder- 
fully ;  and  soon  the  streets  of  Alexandria  saw  a  new  man 
under  an  old  name.     The  name  continued  to  be  Sextus 


404  THE    CONCLUSION. 

Flacciis,  but  it  stood  for  a  very  different  person.  It  stood 
for  the  first  Roman  Christian  of  rank  who  dared  to  avow 
himself.  Paul  on  his  arrival  at  Rome  some  vears  later 
found  him  a  member  of  Cesar's  ht)usehold,  and  ready  to 
help  him  with  all  his  influence  in  founding  the  first  Ro- 
man church. 

This  was  a  great  and  unexpected  success.  But,  in  ad- 
dition, our  eastern  pilgrims,  with  nothing  but  their  cul- 
tured manhood  to  show,  had  found  other  friends  such  as 
they  had  never  counted  on  finding— friends  well  worth 
the  having,  even  by  a  prince;  friends  whose  friendship 
was  for  themselves  and  not  for  their  rank ;  friends  among 
whom  was  one— but  I  must  not  anticipate.  Nay,  I  must 
go  back  a  little. 

Though  Alexander  had  reached  home  early  in  the 
evening  before  the  last  trial,  it  was  very  late  before  he 
could  get  to  his  rest — he  had  so  much  to  tell  and  so  much 
to  hear.  And  this  was  what  he  had  to  tell.  He  had  suc- 
ceeded in  both  the  objects  for  which  he  had  hastened  to 
Rome.  Of  course,  one  of  these  objects  was  to  prevent 
the  disturbance  at  the  Diapleuston  from  being  misrepre- 
sented to  the  emperor  as  a  personal  affront.  It  was  not 
reported  at  all.  For  some  reason  Flaccus  had  not 
thought  it  best  to  say  anything  about  the  matter  in  his 
dispatches.  Probably  he  thought  that  some  of  the  cir- 
cumstances would  not  bear  telling ;  and  then  the  pres- 
ence of  Alexander  at  the  ear  of  the  emperor  was  in  itself 
a  caution  to  be  prudent.     So  Flaccus  was  dumb. 

The  other  object  which  Alexander  had  in  view  was 
really  to  find  out  some  safe  way  of  declining  the  mar- 
riage proposals  in  behalf  of  the  Caesar. 

Notwithstanding  the  fears  of  his  daughter,  he  had 


THE   CONCLUSION.  405 

never  been  so  much  attracted  by  the  offer  of  an  imperial 
alliance  as  were  some  of  his  Jewish  friends.  He  had 
been  too  much  behind  the  scenes  at  the  Palatine.  He 
knew  too  much  of  Tiberius  and  Caesarism.  He  knew 
nothing  to  the  disadvantage  of  Germanicus  and  much  to 
his  advantage ;  but  he  also  knew  that  Tiberius  as  a  young 
man  had  won  golden  opinions;  also,  that  to  be  the 
nephew  and  heir  apparent  of  the  jealous  and  capricious 
emperor  was  very  far  from  being  foreordained  to  empire. 
So  one  of  his  objects  in  going  to  Rome  was,  not  to  see 
Avhether  the  proposals  were  desirable,  but  to  see  how  they 
might  safely  be  declined.  That  Avas  a  hard  problem. 
But  Providence  favored  him.  He  found  that  Germani- 
cus, who  had  never  seen  Rachel,  had  many  times  seen 
Agrippina,  the  granddaughter  of  Augustus,  and  to  very 
good  purpose.  The  growing  intimacy  and  attachment 
between  the  young  people  which  he  was  not  slow  to  dis- 
cover he  promoted  to  the  utmost.  And  when  the  matter 
was  ripe  he  found  means  of  bringing  it  to  the  knowledge 
of  Sejanus,  the  emperor's  favorite,  and  of  so  enlisting 
him  in  its  support  that  under  his  influence  Tiberius  began 
to  regret  his  Egyptian  proposals,  and  to  seek  some  excuse 
for  recalling  them.  "  He  did  not  know,  when  they  Avere 
made,  of  the  situation  at  home.  It  had  only  just  come 
to  his  knowledge.  He  was  sorry ;  but  he  hated  to  break 
young  hearts."  Alexander  allowed  that  it  would  be  a 
pity.  The  emperor  also  thought  that,  inasmuch  as  Ger- 
manicus and  Rachel  had  never  met,  it  might  not,  after 
all,  be  a  very  hard  matter  for  the  fair  Alexandrian  to  have 
the  matter  dropped  in  such  a  quiet  and  honorable  way  as 
could  easily  be  devised.  Alexander  candidly  allowed 
that  the  fact  which  his  majesty  had  stated  was  a  weighty 


406  THE   CONCLUSION-. 

one.  In  short,  Tiberius  receded  from  liis  proposals; 
and,  to  soften  the  supposed  disappointment  to  the  mighty 
banker  for  whom  his  treasury  had  so  much  use,  he  sent 
him  home  in  the  imperial  galley  with  new  guaranties  and 
privileges  for  the  Jewish  community  in  Egypt,  and  with 
a  broad  hint  to  Flaccus  to  let  it  be  known  that  the  honor 
of  the  imperial  alliance  had  been  declined  from  religious 
considerations  which  the  emperor  felt  bound  to  respect. 
The  Alabarch  expected  nothing  less  than  that  early  the 
next  morning  all  Alexandria  would  be  in  possession  of  the 
news,  and  would  be  wondering  how  he  could  so  rebuff 
the  emperor  and  yet  stand  higher  in  his  favor  than  ever. 

This,  for  substance,  was  what  Alexander  had  to  tell. 
Of  course  Rachel  was  vastly  delighted  at  her  escape ;  and 
showed  that  she  was  by  flinging  her  arms  about  her 
father's  neck  and  rapturously  kissing  him. 

But  the  father  wanted  to  hear  as  well  as  to  tell. 
Something  of  what  had  transpired  had  reached  him  by 
letter ;  but  he  wanted  to  know  all.  And  Seti  rehearsed 
all  that  had  hapj^ened  since  that  memorable  Sabbath  at 
the  Diapleuston.  Rachel  sat  uneasily  silent,  leaning 
against  her  father  and  toying  with  the  splendid  jewelled 
badge  of  the  Order  of  the  Golden  Eagle  which  Tiberius 
at  parting  had,  with  his  own  hands,  fastened  on  his 
breast — listening  with  burning  cheeks  as  her  grandfather 
in  his  graphic  way  reproduced  the  events  and  expressed 
the  confidence  and  admiration  with  which  Aleph  had  in- 
spired him.  Every  now  and  then  she  stole  an  anxious 
look  at  her  father's  face;  not  quite  sure  how  the  shrewd 
man  of  affairs,  i)rofessionally  accustomed  to  deal  with 
men  on  a  principle  of  suspicion  aiul  abundant  caution, 
would  view  the  eulogiums  of  the  priest  and  philosopher. 


THE   CONCLUSION^.  407 

founded  on  so  brief  an  acquaintance.     When  Alexander 
had  heard  all,  he  said  slowly : 

"  If  I  had  never  seen  the  young  man,  nor  known  Seti 
so  well,  I  might  have  challenged  the  sobriety  of  the  ac- 
count I  have  just  heard.  But,  having  seen  him  twice, 
and  you  a  thousand  times,  I  have  nothing  to  say,  save 
that  I  wish  he  was  emperor  of  the  West,  or  at  least  the 
Ca?sar.  In  that  case,  perhaps,  I  would  not  take  so  much 
trouble  to  keep  the  Caesar  at  arm's-length,  as  I  have  been 
lately  taking  in  another  quarter  " — and  he  nodded  smil- 
ingly at  Rachel.     ''  But  who  can  he  be?  " 

No  matter  who  he  is,"  returned  Seti>with  emphasis, 
since  he  is  a  Man,  a  sovereign  man.  He  has  a  broader 
empire  within  him  than  Tiberius  sees  without  him ;  an 
empire  of  which  no  caprice  of  fortune  «an  rob  him.  And 
his  body  is  as  sovereign  as  his  soul.  He  needs  no  herald 
to  go  before  him  and  cry.  Make  way,  for  the  king  is  com- 
ing.    Men  know  it  as  soon  as  they  see  him.'' 

To  such  words  Rachel  could  have  listened  all  night. 
But  she  wondered  whether  they  would  have  been  spoken 
had  father  and  grandfather  known  what  she  knew.  She 
had  not  yet  mustered  courage  to  speak  to  Seti  of  her  new 
relation  to  Aleph ;  in  fact  had  about  made  up  her  mind 
to  leave  all  explanations  to  Providence  and  Aleph.  So 
both  Seti  and  Alexander  remained  ignorant  of  that  won- 
derful conversation  between  the  young  people  which  I 
have  lately  recorded  till  Aleph  the  Chaldean  had  be- 
come Aleph  the  Prince,  and  had  asked  leave  to  substi- 
tute for  the  proposals  of  Tiberius  certain  proposals  of  his 
own.  Then  the  whole  matter  came  out.  The  Alabarch 
found  that  his  daughter  had  no  serious  objection  to  being 
a  princess  provided  the  prince  was  of  the  right  sort.     He 


408  THE   CONCLUSION. 

was  in  very  much  the  same  mood  himself.  Indeed,  he 
went  so  far  as  to  say  that  he  would  not  have  refused  his 
daughter  to  Alej^h  had  he  always  remained  simply  Aleph 
the  Chaldean,  of  unknown  birth  and  fortunes :  how  much 
less  could  he  do  it  now  that  the  young  man  stood  re- 
vealed a  Hebrew  of  the  Hebrews,  a  descendant  of  Daniel 
the  illustrious  statesman  and  prophet,  and  the  heir  of  the 
stablest  and  choicest,  though  not  the  largest,  sovereignty 
of  the  age ! 

So,  before  many  days  (but  not  until  the  arrival  of 
Rachel's  mother  from  Jerusalem,  and  her  express  sanc- 
tion, and  even  her  joyful  confession  that  Aleph  was  a 
very  welcome  substitute  for  even  so  good  a  C^sar  as  Ger- 
manicus)  a  formal  betrothal  took  place ;  and  all  Alexan- 
dria took  to  busily  talking  over  the  gracious  ceremonial. 
Now  they  understood  why  Germanicus  had  been  respect- 
fully declined.  The  ground  had  been  pre  empted.  An- 
other prince  had  spoken,  and  spoken  in  person.  "And 
no  wonder,"  said  they,  "that  he  was  successful;  for 
never  did  we  set  eyes  on  a  goodlier  person  or  a  prince- 
lier."  So  Alexandria  was  in  excellent  humor;  and  for 
once  all  the  five  quarters  of  the  city  ceased  their  mutual 
wrangling  and  railing  and  consented  to  say  the  same 
complimentary  things.  Even  the  elders  of  the  Diapleus- 
ton  who  so  much  wanted  to  see  a  second  Esther  on  the 
imperial  throne  were  by  this  time  ready  to  allow  that 
Kachel  had  chosen  very  happily  for  herself,  if  not  for  the 
Jewish  public.  They  offered  congratulations.  They 
sent  in  rich  presents — especially  Ben  Simeon,  who,  from 
the  first,  had  been  so  drawn  to  Aleph,  and  was  now  in 
charge  as  consignee  in  the  place  of  Malus.  But  the  rich- 
est and  most  valued  presents  that  Rachel  received  on  that 


THE    CONCLUSION.  409 

auspicious  day  were  two — from  opposite  quarters.  One 
was  a  copy  from  the  Septuagint  of  all  the  Messianic 
prophecies  in  their  order,  beautifully  done  on  vellum 
margined  with  jewels — this  came  from  Alepli.  The 
other  came  from  Flaccus,  in  the  name  of  his  son  Sextus, 
and  was  no  less  than  the  Setian  palace  on  the  Nile  which 
has  had  so  conspicuous  a  place  in  this  narrative.  Some 
damage  had  been  done  to  it  by  Draco  and  his  band  in 
their  orgies  and  final  rummage  for  concealed  treasure: 
but  he  had  been  so  thoroughly  frightened  by  what  he 
had  done  to  Sextus,  as  well  as  by  the  escape  of  Aleph  and 
the  numerous  foot-prints  found  about  the  premises  early 
the  next  morning,  that  his  search  was  very  hasty  and 
ended  in  the  whole  gang  betaking  themselves  precipitately 
to  the  desert — to  the  great  misfortune  of  the  desert  and 
travelers,  but  without  much  damage  to  the  stronghold 
they  had  left.  It  was  soon  put  in  prime  condition  by 
Flaccus,  and  then,  in  an  elaborate  communication,  pre- 
sented to  Seti  for  Rachel  and  Aleph  as  an  '^  Egyptian 
home  to  which  his  excellency  hoped  they  would  very 
often  return."  It  was  a  question  in  the  mind  of  Seti 
whether  a  man  could  give  what  does  not  belong  to  him ; 
but  this  question,  wise  man  that  he  was,  he  kept  to  him- 
self, and  was  very  glad  to  have  the  ancient  heirloom  come 
back  in  any  way  into  his  family. 

And  these  were  the  ulterior  arrangements.  Cimon 
and  Aleph  would  return  home  at  once  by  way  of  Palestine, 
with  the  hope  of  falling  in  with  the  Messiah  ere  his  re- 
turn heavenward.  Then,  as  soon  as  possible,  Aleph 
would  come  again  with  his  father's  formal  sanction  to 
claim  his  bride ;  and  then  her  father  and  mother  and  dear 
mother-father  would  take  a  long  vacation  and  accompany 


410  THE   CONCLUSION". 

her  and  Miriam  (henceforth  inseparable)  to  their  new 
home.  Alexander  even  went  so  far  as  to  intimate  that, 
mindful  of  the  uncertainty  of  the  imperial  favor  and  of 
the  Jewish  position  in  Alexandria,  he  was  thinking  seri- 
ously of  transferring  the  bulk  of  his  fortune  to  a  safer 
region;  and  to  facilitate  this  had  already  arranged  to 
open  a  branch  banking  house  at  Ecbatana,  where  con- 
verged many  routes  of  commercial  travel.  By  all  means 
do  this,  0  great  financier,  and  tarry  not  in  the  doing; 
for  the  times  in  the  west  are  threatening,  and  Rome  is  a 
volcano  that  may  at  any  moment  send  streams  of  lava 
farther  than  Alexandria.  Plant  thy  family  and  fortunes 
amid  the  safe  Chaldean  mountains,  hard  by  the  tombs  of 
Daniel  and  Esther  in  Eden ;  and,  looking  calmly  forth 
from  your  impregnable  observatory,  see  distant  Cc^sars 
rise  and  fall,  see  distant  legions  march  and  counter- 
march, and,  above  all,  see  the  friendly  star  that  offers  to 
guide  your  faith  and  gifts  to  Jesus  the  King.  Then 
push  out  the  antennae  of  commerce  vigorously  into  all 
lands,  and  gather  the  spoils  of  peace  wherewith  to  deco- 
rate the  Prince  of  peace.  It  is  your  mission.  You  have 
a  genius  for  honorable  money-making.  Use  it  vigor- 
ously. It  is  as  sacred  as  a  genius  for  eloquence,  or  a 
genius  for  science. 


A  brilliant  caravan  files  through  the  gate  of  Canopus. 
Our  friends  are  moving  homeward.  They  came  by  the 
way  the  Magian  fathers  returned ;  they  are  returning  by 
the  way  those  fathers  came.  They  have  just  said  fare- 
wells to  Shaphan  and  Nathan :  a  little  before  they  had 
said  still  more  tender  ones  at  the  palace  of  Alexander. 


THE   CONCLUSION.  411 

Flaccus  had  insisted  on  sending  with  them  an  escort  of 
cavalry  as  far  as  the  frontier ;  and  Alexander,  and  Seti, 
and  Cornelius  at  the  head  of  a  large  delegation  from  the 
University,  will  go  with  them  a  day^s  journey. 

We  will  not  go  with  them  even  that  distance,  though 
we  would  be  glad  to  do  so ;  but  will  say  our  farewells  and 
godspeeds  just  here  before  the  khan  where  Shaphan  and 
Nathan  once  reluctantly  parted  with  the  Divine  Child. 
Our  parting,  top,  is  reluctant.  We  are  vastly  sorry,  0 
wise  men  of  the  East,  to  say  good-bye  to  you,  though  it 
be  for  only  a  few  moons.  It  is  not  often  that  such  as 
you  have  crossed  our  path,  or  any  path.  But  partings 
must  be ;  and  so,  comforting  ourselves  with  the  expecta- 
tion of  seeing  you  again  when  all  Alexandria  is  ablaze 
with  that  rare  thing,  a  royal  marriage  made  in  Heaven, 
we  gather  courage  to  say  Adieu  !  May  the  Father  above 
prosper  your  way  to  the  father  below.  We  foresee  that 
He  will.  You  and  yours  are  well  mounted ;  and  though 
only  Aleph  has  a  Parthia  beneath  him,  there  can  be  but  a 
few  days  of  travel  between  you  and  the  Messiah.  The 
longings  of  your  hearts  will  be  gratified.  You  will  reach 
Galilee  in  season.  There,  on  a  certain  mountain,  with 
more  than  five  hundred  fellow  disciples,  you  will  see  with 
your  own  eyes  Him  in  whom  you  have  blessedly  believed 
without  seeing ;  will  be  welcomed  by  Him  for  the  fathers' 
sake  as  well  as  for  your  own ;  will  perhaps  see  some  of 
the  "many  other  signs  which  are  not  written  in  this 
book";  and,  finally,  in  the  early  morning,  as  you  re- 
sume your  journey  and  are  taking  a  look  backward  on 
the  city  of  so  many  sacred  memories,  you  will  see  over 
the  Mount  of  Olives  a  human  form  slowly  rising  through 
^he  air  with  outstretched  hands  of  benediction.     The  son 


4:VZ  THE   CONCLUSION. 

of  Daniel  will  need  no  interpreter.  Behold  the  Heavenly 
King  going  to  his  home  even  as  you  are  going  to  yours ! 
And  you  will  worship  and  go  on  your  way  rejoicing; 
bearing  to  your  Chaldean  home  such  news  that  all  its  sil- 
ver trumpets  will  sound  as  it  exclaims: 

Thank  God!  ye,  too,  have  been  star-led  pil- 
grims. 

When  forth  the  Tribes  to  Canaan  went, 

In  travel  long  and  sore, 
What  gnide  had  they  along  the  way. 

Save  cloud  that  went  before — 

Save  cloud  that  goes  before, 

And  goeth  evermore  ? 

And  when  the  Wise  Men  of  the  East 

A  pilgrim  banner  bore. 
What  guide  had  they  along  the  way, 

Save  star  that  shone  before — 

Save  star  that  shines  before, 

And  shineth  evermore  ? 

And  when  the  Wise  Men  of  the  West, 

Wise  in  a  saving  lore, 
Set  forth  through  wilds  to  find  the  Child 

And  win  the  Golden  Shore, 

Tliat  shineth  evermore, 

And  moveth  nevermore ; 

Some  cloud  from  God  will  surely  go 

Their  doubtful  steps  before. 
All  through  the  light— and  through  the  night 

Some  star  its  beams  shall  pour. 

Some  star  their  path  explore — 

Guide  faileth  nevermore. 

Who  to  the  Lord  his  way  commends 

Shall  never  lose  his  way, 
But  ever  find  the  Lord  is  kind 

To  lead  from  dark  to  day  : 


THE   CONCLUSION.  413 

Shall  even  find  the  Lord  doth  know 
A  way  so  kind  that  e'en  the  blind 

Straight  to  his  mark  can  go — 
At  least  His  mark,  which,  kinder  far, 
The  daily  cloud  and  nightly  star 

Go  seeking  evermore, 

And  missing  nevermore. 


nji'r 


>»,'       »-■ 


M, 


t^M%^^ 


<«^ 


^^ 


;a^  -^ii-\  -^ 


i'^m 


il^^ 


PZ3 .B968A  I 

Aleph,  the  Chaldean;  or,  The  Messiah  as 

Princeton  Theological  Seminary-Speer  Library 


1    1012  00028  3517 


